Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury again to retain his unified world heavyweight titles in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
The longer it lasted, the more it became a masterclass from the greatest tactician and most dazzling technician of this and many other generations.
Having handed Fury the first loss of his career via split decision seven months ago, Usyk’s sheer will proved decisive once again in retaining his WBA, WBC and WBO titles.
“This is what it means to be Ukrainian,” Usyk said as he celebrated his victory. ‘I win, it’s good. I win, thank God.’
However, Fury had a different view upon entering his dressing room, suggesting he had won the fight by at least three rounds.
His manager Frank Warren wasn’t happy either and said: ‘How come Tyson only got four rounds in this fight? It’s impossible. He is very disappointed as am I. “Everyone in the front (of the ring) thought it was all the same.”
Oleksandr Usyk retained his heavyweight titles after beating Tyson Fury on Saturday night.
The Ukrainian outplayed his British counterpart (left) in their long-awaited rematch.
Fury was comforted by Frank Warren (left) inside the ring after the decision was announced.
Meanwhile, IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois stormed into Usyk’s interview saying, “I want my shot, I want my revenge.”
Usyk immediately responded to Dubois: “No problem.” I’m ready. Next fight, no problem.’
Before they could even think about getting into the limousines for the motorcades heading to the stadium along the makeshift racetracks that serve as highways here, traffic jams broke out in the committee rooms of the Fury and Usyk teams.
Could the Gypsy King keep his Methuselah beard, grown in his long, isolated training camp? Or should it be cut or trimmed in case it cushioned the kyiv Cat’s blows or aggravated any damage to its face?
It was not decreed to be a problem. Especially since no one seemed to know what the rule said or even if there was one on the Saudi Boxing Authority’s schedules.
Who should replace the judge who was too ill to travel? The Ukrainians wanted a Panamanian, the British a second American. Stalemate until Fury’s promoter Frank Warren suggested they flip a coin and lost. First round for the Kyiv team.
Not that his hero seemed remotely concerned about either issue. It’s certainly not the latter as, as far as he was concerned, this fight would begin in the 13th round, so he had already learned almost everything he needed to know about Fury in his 12-round victory over him here six months earlier. This cat is great.
He remained calm during that record 11 minutes and 20 seconds of staring during fight week until Tyson could contain himself no longer and unleashed a series of insults.
After the final bell, Ukrainian star Usyk knelt and looked up at the sky.
Fury fought well but ultimately came up short in his fight against the Gypsy King that night.
Daniel Dubois demanded a rematch with Usyk after the latter’s victory over Fury
The Kingdom Arena that awaited them, after all was said and done, is covered, but with temperatures plummeting after dark in this month that saw snowfall in the desert for the first time in Saudi history, it was still a cold room.
As for those single-bar heaters known as human beings, this is the Kingdom of the Night.
The scorching heat for most of the year demands that work, play and the national sport of shopping begin in the late afternoon at the earliest. With the peak time for restaurant reservations closer to eleven than seven. As for boxing, since big fights like this hit the ring around 2 a.m., the place doesn’t get very busy, if at all, before the witching hour.
Almost at the stroke of midnight, the locals entered in droves, heating up the room and the atmosphere. Screenshots of Fury and Usyk’s arrival revealed their preference for the champion. Fury always has fans, but there were fewer traveling companions than usual. A potential fight of the year is all well and good, but it’s Christmas week at home and not all the guys can swoon over their good ladies.
The dressing room camera zoomed in on a bare-chested, gloved Fury. There is visible evidence of how he has risen to a weight of 20 stone, the highest of his career. His gesture before the holidays was to walk to the ring dressed as Santa Claus. Hopefully the first of many points scored before Usyk rejoined him in combat. That beard was thicker than ever, Usyk’s shaven head in brilliant contrast. In size, it really was David versus Goliath.
Fury’s first right hand sent Usyk staggering back across the ring. Fury’s quick start was negated by some quick two-punch interventions from the champion.
Fury’s intention was in contrast to his boast at the beginning of the first fight. Fury’s crisp punches and a couple of hard right hands in the second round put him on the card. Was he looking for a quick ending, you asked?
Tyson ran at Usyk at the beginning of the third round. He was supposed to be the one to attack the body, but Usyk skillfully reversed it with attacks on the massive form in front of him.
It was a close duel although it was the Ukrainian who prevailed in the exchanges.
After the fight, Fury showed off his bruised right eye as a result of Usyk’s powerful punches.
In the fourth, the crowd woke up when Usyk sprayed, but Fury’s work won the round. It was a close match, with a lot of tension in the arena.
Soon Fury went to work with left and right combinations and, despite smart comebacks, the Brit was back on level terms.
But the champion showed what he was made of with some wonderful work in the sixth, darting in and out to a climax of three shocking left hooks that worried his opponent.
A more vigilant round from both men followed, but Usyk came and went to add more detail to the few blows exchanged.
Usyk complained about a headbutt in the eighth. The referee was not convinced, but the Ukrainian exacted his own retribution with a succession of left hooks that shook the challenger.
Now the crowd was really getting more into the competition as it looked more and more likely that we would go all the way.
More classic work from Usyk in the ninth continued to set Fury back, and the British fighter may have been slowing down now.
In the tenth round of an increasingly absorbing encounter, Fury finally unleashed a huge right hand, but Usyk had him staggered at the end by a sustained barrage.
Fury refused to see his wife Paris, pictured that night, for three months in the lead-up.
The left, a sinister blow, was now raising concern for Fury, one after another, making him stagger around the ring in a daze.
And so until the end. A desperate Fury looked for a right Hail Mary and ate more leather for the trouble. Fury was brave and fought back, but lacked the acuity to have any real effect.
In the end, Usyk knelt before the crowd in supplication. Fury raised a fist in hope.
We didn’t have to wait long for the verdict. The three judges scored the fight 116-112 in favor of Usyk.