Oleksandr Usyk proved his superiority in the heavyweight division, defeating Tyson Fury by unanimous decision in their highly anticipated rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.
The Ukrainian’s victory, scored 116-112 by all three judges, cemented his position as the undisputed heavyweight champion and extended his unbeaten record to 23-0 with 14 knockouts.
“He’s a great fighter, it’s a great performance,” Usyk said of Fury, who was unbeaten over 35 fights until he lost their four-belt unification bout in May.
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Fury, who announced his retirement in 2022 only to return to the ring, was left to ponder his future after suffering his second consecutive loss. “I thought I’ve won both fights, but then again I’ve got two losses on my record now, so there’s not much I can do about it,” said the 36-year-old Briton.
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The defeat has opened up an uncertain future for Fury, who was sporting a bruised right eye during the post-fight press conference. “I can just fight me heart out and do the best I can. But I’ll always believe until the day I die that I won that fight.
Usyk’s victory was celebrated with a symbolic gesture, as he held up a sabre that belonged to Ivan Mazepa, a hero of Ukrainian nationalism. The win is expected to earn him a significant share of the $190m prize purse.
The fight was part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to establish itself as a major player in the sports world, despite criticism over its human rights record.
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