Usyk beats Fury again to retain unified heavyweight title

Oleksandr Usyk cemented himself as boxing's top heavyweight as he beat Tyson Fury for the second time.

Usyk defeated Fury via unanimous decision in their highly anticipated rematch to retain the WBA, WBC, and WBO heavyweight titles Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

All three judges scored the fight 116-112 in Usyk's favor.

Usyk was too quick and sharp for Fury as the Ukrainian defended his unified crown for the first time since a split-decision victory over "The Gypsy King" in a May undisputed title bout. Usyk won the rematch more decisively than the first fight, thriving in the second half of the match and outstriking Fury 179-144 in total punches.

"It's a great fighter. It's a great opponent," Usyk said of Fury afterward. "It's a great 24 rounds. Unbelievable 24 rounds for my career. Thank you so much."

Fury left the ring and did not conduct a postfight interview, though he said backstage he thought he won "by at least three rounds." Fury's promoter, Frank Warren, called the scoring "nuts" and said he was "really disappointed."

"I don't get it," Warren said. "But is what it is, and we'll have to see what happens in the future for Tyson."

IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois went into the ring to confront Usyk after the fight. Dubois, who's scheduled to defend his title against Joseph Parker on Feb. 22 in Riyadh, said he wants a rematch with Usyk after he faces Parker. Dubois suffered a ninth-round knockout loss to Usyk in August 2023 in a fight for the WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight titles.

"I want my revenge, Usyk," Dubois said to him. "Well done tonight. ... Let's go. Make it happen."

Usyk asked Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, to book a rematch with Dubois.

"Next fight, no problem," Usyk said of potentially facing Dubois again if he beats Parker. "Now, I'm gonna go home and have a rest. But I'm ready."

Usyk and Fury were very competitive in the first half of the rematch. In fact, Fury was ahead 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47 after five rounds. But Usyk took six of the last seven rounds on two judges' scorecards - and all seven on the third judge's scorecard - to secure the decision.

Usyk stayed busier and landed the more impactful punches throughout the bout. He snapped Fury's head back in the fourth round and landed several hard lefts in the 12th. Usyk connected with solid shots to the body and did a good job of pushing Fury back against the ropes to land offense.

With the win, Usyk's professional boxing record now sits at 23-0 with 14 knockouts. The 37-year-old has been the heavyweight champion since beating Anthony Joshua in 2021; this was his fourth title defense - counting the first Fury fight - overall. Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 2000 by beating Fury in May but was forced to vacate the IBF title after that victory.

Fury, who suffered the first loss of his career in the first Usyk fight, falls to 34-2-1 with 24 knockouts. Fury, who forfeited the WBC belt in May, is a former two-time heavyweight champion.