Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk has defeated Britain’s Tyson Fury in a unanimous decision in Riyadh, retaining his WBA, WBO, and WBC heavyweight world titles.
The closely contested fight was a rematch of their bout in May, which Usyk also won. All three judges scored the fight 116-112 in favor of the Ukrainian boxer.
Asked in his post-fight interview in the ring if he thought the scorecards were correct, Usyk shrugged.
"I win, it's good ... I'm not the judges, I'm a sportsman, I'm an athlete," Usyk said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on the X platform: “By defending his championship belt, Oleksandr Usyk proves: we are Ukrainians and we will not give up what is ours! No matter how hard it gets – we will overcome everything.”
This defeat marked Fury’s second consecutive professional loss after a career that previously included 34 wins and one draw. Meanwhile, the 37-year-old Usyk maintained his flawless record of 23 wins in as many fights.
Asked in his post-fight interview in the ring if he thought the scorecards were correct, Usyk shrugged.
"I win, it's good ... I'm not the judges, I'm a sportsman, I'm an athlete," Usyk said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on the X platform: “By defending his championship belt, Oleksandr Usyk proves: we are Ukrainians and we will not give up what is ours! No matter how hard it gets – we will overcome everything.”
Victory!
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 21, 2024
So important and so needed by all of us right now.
By defending his championship belt, Oleksandr @usykaa proves: we are Ukrainians and we will not give up what is ours! No matter how hard it gets—we will overcome everything. Whether it is in the ring, on the… pic.twitter.com/5OdpUhU5Qb
Decision contested
This defeat marked Fury’s second consecutive professional loss after a career that previously included 34 wins and one draw. Meanwhile, the 37-year-old Usyk maintained his flawless record of 23 wins in as many fights.
Fury, aged 36, struggled to dominate in a match many viewed as evenly matched until Usyk pulled ahead in the later rounds.
Despite the unanimous decision Fury said the judges made a mistake in awarding a unanimous decision win to Usyk. He said: “I was quite confident. I thought I won that fight, again... I thought I've won both fights.”
"I can just fight my heart out and do the best I can, but again, I'll always believe until a day I die, I won that fight.
"It is what it is. I'm not going to cry over spilled milk,” he added.
In May, Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis’s reign ended in 2000. At that time, he held titles from the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO federations.
However, Usyk later relinquished the IBF title, citing his inability to meet the mandatory defense requirements. That title is now held by Britain’s Daniel Dubois.
Despite the unanimous decision Fury said the judges made a mistake in awarding a unanimous decision win to Usyk. He said: “I was quite confident. I thought I won that fight, again... I thought I've won both fights.”
"I can just fight my heart out and do the best I can, but again, I'll always believe until a day I die, I won that fight.
"It is what it is. I'm not going to cry over spilled milk,” he added.
Undisputed
In May, Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis’s reign ended in 2000. At that time, he held titles from the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO federations.
However, Usyk later relinquished the IBF title, citing his inability to meet the mandatory defense requirements. That title is now held by Britain’s Daniel Dubois.
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