Tyson Fury was attempting to exact revenge on Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night, seven months after losing the rivals’ undisputed fight
Tyson Fury was attempting to exact revenge on Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night, seven months after losing the rivals’ undisputed fight Tyson Fury was attempting to exact revenge on Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night, seven months after losing the rivals’ undisputed fight
Oleksandr Usyk outpointed Tyson Fury for a second time to retain his heavyweight world titles.
Usyk was in control of large swathes of the fight as Fury struggled to make his mark, despite his huge size advantage. And seven months after his first victory over the Brit, Usyk was given the nod by all three judges who each scored the bout 116-112.
“I win,” said Usyk simply. “I win, thank you God. I had good preparation, my wife helped me. For me this is a very happy day. My son won his judo belt and said to me, ‘Papa, you are next’.” Usyk was then confronted by fellow world champion Daniel Dubois who was beaten by Ukrainian last summer. “Make me a fight with Daniel Dubois,” he added. The winner then teared up as he dedicated his victory to his mum.
Fury did not speak after his defeat but promoter Frank Warren was baffled by the scorecards. “It’s impossible,” he said. “How did Tyson only get four rounds in this fight? I’m not biased. Everyone across the front all thought the same way. It’s nuts. Did you only give him four rounds. Nuts. I don’t get it. Really disappointed with that. I thought Tyson was in control. Thought he boxed extremely well. But anyway. It is what it is.”
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Fury meandered to the ring dressed as Santa Claus, still sporting the bushy beard which Usyk’s team had demanded he shave. Usyk was far more business-like as he strode to the square circle with a minimum of fuss. The rivals touched gloves and Fury immediately attempted to use his four-stone weight advantage as he took the centre of the ring.
The Brit attempted to establish his jab while Usyk looked to land his left to his rival’s flesh midriff. And it was that backhand to the body which began to pay dividends in the second round as neither man took a backward step. But a right hand briefly stopped Usyk in his tracks in the dying seconds as Fury looked to deliver on his pre-fight promise of a stoppage.
Usyk switched upstairs with that same left hand but Fury responded with the same shot to the body. The challenger ended the session enjoying success with his jab as the rivals began to figure each other out once again. Usyk began round four with successive left hands as he answered Fury’s aggression with his own. The champion looked to have taken control of the round as he landed to the head again when Fury switched southpaw.
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Usyk reverted back to his attacks to Fury’s body art the start of the fifth round but it was Fury who landed the first meaningful blow. And it was he who enjoyed success to the body as he perhaps edged ahead on the scorecards again. A quieter sixth round sparked into life when Fury landed a straight right but Usyk responded immediately with a left hand upstairs. Another left hand had Fury momentarily off his stride to leave the rematch perfectly poised at the halfway mark.
A right hand from Fury landed flush from Fury in the seventh but Usyk was the busier fighter as we entered the second half. And another left hand had Fury in trouble as he struggled to come up with an answer. It was at this stage in the first fight that Usyk stamped his authority on the contest – and he was quickly off his stool for the eighth round. Usyk’s pressure was relentless as Fury began to hold on.
Fury did, however, begin stronger in the ninth round as he found an unexpected second wind. But Usyk again finished the session on top as a left hand found a home. Fury whipped in a body shot at the start of the 10th round as he looked to push Usyk back. The champion returned the favour but his challenger again found his rival’s body. Another left hand from Usyk proved the final telling blow of the stanza.
Usyk landed to the body with both hands at the start of the penultimate round. And he looked far more composed than his challenger as he put his punches together with a left hand forcing Fury on to the back foot.
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Fury was implored by his corner to finish the fight but Usyk was not in the mood to sit back. Fury landed a one-two midway through the session but was ultimately left unable to find the required stoppage with the Brit leaving the ring immediately after the result was announced.
On the undercard, Dave Allen was robbed of victory against Johnny Fisher having dropped the unbeaten prospect only to be denied victory on the scorecards. Fisher was in control of the contest over the opening four rounds but hit the deck in the fifth as the tide turned. Allen went on to dominate large swathes of the remainder of the contest but only one judge found in his favour.
Another British heavyweight prospect, Moses Itauma showed exactly why he is destined for the top when he stopped Demsey McKean in the first round. Australian McKean’s only previous defeat had come at the hands of Filip Hrgovic whom he took to the final round. Itauma dropped McKean with a cuffing shot before finishing the job when he landed again before the end of the session.
Ishmael Davis was dropped in the second round by Serhii Bohachuk before being pulled out by his corner in the sixth having stepped in at two week’ notice to face the dangerous Ukrainian. Lee McGregor continued on his comeback trail with a points win over Isaac Lowe while Peter McGrail was pushed all the way by late-replacement opponent Rhys Edwards but prevailed on all three judges’ cards.
Mirror – Sport