Oleksandr Usyk maintained his undefeated record by successfully defending his undisputed heavyweight belt with a unanimous decision over Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday night.
Judges Gerardo Martinez, Patrick Morley, and Ignacio Robles all scored the fight in favor of Usyk with identical scorecards of 116-112.
Usyk connected with 179 of his 423 punches thrown, landing at a 42 percent rate, while Fury landed just 144 of his 509 punches at a 28 percent clip.
When asked about the judges’ decision, Usyk humbly stated, “I win, it’s good. Not my deal. I win. Thank you, God.”
The rematch between the two fighters, following Fury’s first loss in May, lived up to expectations from the beginning.
Usyk’s team requested Fury to trim his beard before the fight, but Fury entered the ring with an unshaven look, sporting a red Christmas-themed robe.
Throughout the match, Usyk’s strategic body work and sharp combinations were effective, gradually wearing down Fury who struggled with the extra weight.
Despite a spirited effort from Fury in the later rounds, Usyk’s speed and precision allowed him to control the fight, ultimately securing the victory.
An experimental AI judge also scored the fight in favor of Usyk, further confirming his dominance in the match.
Following the decision, Fury expressed his disappointment in the outcome but acknowledged Usyk’s performance.
With only three belts on the line due to a previous sanction, Usyk’s next challenge could potentially be a rematch with Daniel Dubois.
