Oleksandr Usyk defeats Tyson Fury by unanimous decision in rematch

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Oleksandr Usyk retained the heavyweight championship with another decision victory over Tyson Fury on Saturday, this time by unanimous decision, in a rematch that was every bit as competitive as their first meeting in May.

Usyk, ESPN’s no. 1 pound-for-pound boxers, prevailed by the same score on all three cards: 116-112.

The rounds were hard to score as Fury found plenty of success, especially from the southpaw stance as he switched from orthodox, but Usyk found the far bigger moments of the fight.

The Ukrainian, fighting for his war-torn nation, consistently beat the much larger Fury and connected with a host of overhand lefts.

“He’s a great fighter, he’s a great opponent, it’s a great 24 rounds; incredible 24 rounds in my career,” said Usyk, 37. “Thank you so much, (Fury).”

Fury, 36, appeared to believe he did enough to win afterwards as he celebrated at the final bell. When the scorecards were announced, Fury was dejected and left the ring without an interview.

The fight was entertaining from bell to bell, a fast-paced heavyweight bout that featured few clinches, but it wasn’t nearly as exciting as the first fight (also in Saudi Arabia’s capital) that will likely win Fight of the Year.

In that contest for the undisputed heavyweight championship, Usyk put Fury down in the 9th round when the ropes held the Englishman up after 14 unanswered punches. The 10-8 round was the difference on the scorecards.

Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) vowed in the lead-up to the rematch that if he simply didn’t clown around and avoid a 10-8 round, he would even the score and force a trilogy fight. “The Gypsy King” kept his promise to take the fight more seriously as he didn’t taunt Usyk once.

The only time Fury played to the crowd was during his electric entrance when he belted out Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas is You followed by The Notorious BIG’s “Hypnotize.”

“More seriously,” said Fury, ESPN’s No. 2 heavyweights, in the post-fight press conference “… I thought I won the fight again. … I was on the front foot the whole time.”

Fury said he was confident he was ahead going into the final round. His right eye was torn open, but he never appeared to be injured in the fight, unlike the first time.

“When you don’t get the knockout, that’s what can happen,” he said.