Oleksandr Usyk defeats Tyson Fury again in rematch, retains world titles and extends unbeaten run

Oleksandr Usyk scores dominant decision victory over Tyson Fury in an action-packed rematch. Photo: Reproduction MMA Fighting

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There was no knockout, but Oleksandr Usyk dominated Tyson Fury and secured another victory over his rival in the rematch that took place this Saturday (21), at the Kingdom Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Ukrainian's ability to come in and damage the British boxer with lightning combinations made the difference. After 12 intense rounds, all three judges scored the fight at 116-112, with Usyk obtaining the victory by unanimous decision and keeping all his heavyweight titles.

“I win. I’m not the judge. It’s not my business. I win, thank God,” Usyk said in his reaction to the scorecards.

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Fury left the ring dejected as soon as the scores were announced, but Usyk still gave him credit for another incredibly tough fight, cementing his position as the best heavyweight in boxing.

“He’s a great fighter. He’s a great opponent. It’s 24 great rounds. 24 unbelievable rounds for my career,” said the Ukrainian.

At 37, Usyk has an impeccable record, with 23 wins and no losses. In addition to his success in professional boxing, he also won the gold medal in the heavyweight category at the 2012 Olympic Games. On the other hand, Fury, a year younger, suffered the second defeat of his career, now accumulating 34 wins, one draw and two losses.

Ukrainian rhythm

Early on, Fury looked to establish his left jab followed by a big right hand behind him. In response, Usyk showed off his quick footwork as he danced around the inside as he began to dig into Fury's body with repeated punches. The Brit was consistently trying to keep his opponent at bay, but the Ukrainian did a good job of moving forward while continuing to set up his powerful left hand. In a brief moment where Fury switched stances, Usyk appeared to make him pay with a huge uppercut and that was all it took for 'The Gypsy King' to return to orthodoxy.

As the fight moved into the fourth round, Usyk landed a huge left hand that sent Fury sprawling to the ground and put him at a disadvantage. Usyk followed up with another big punch as the Riyadh crowd cheered after the massive exchange. The Ukrainian's ability to take Fury out of range proved crucial as he landed punches to the face while landing with impressive accuracy. The left hand came loose from Usyk as he repeatedly hit Fury with the bigger man backing up against the ropes several times.

In the final rounds, Fury showed clear signs of fatigue, with a drop in the power of his punches, while Usyk maintained his consistency. The result was a unanimous victory for the Ukrainian, who retained the IBO (International Boxing Organization), WBC (World Boxing Council) and WBO (World Boxing Organization) world belts.

The first clash between the two boxing legends took place on May 18 of this year, also in Saudi Arabia. Both men entered the fight undefeated, seeking to unify the main world heavyweight titles. After 12 evenly matched rounds, Usyk won by split decision and took the World Boxing Council (WBC) belt, previously held by Fury, becoming the undisputed champion of the division.

Before the second clash between the two, the world was shocked after a stare between them that lasted 10 minutes.