Oleksandr Usyk delivered a commanding performance in Saudi Arabia to defeat Tyson Fury by unanimous decision, retaining his heavyweight titles in a highly anticipated bout that lived up to its billing. The Ukrainian boxer impressed the judges, all three scoring the fight 116-112 in his favor.
The decision, however, sparked immediate controversy, especially from Fury and his camp. Promoter Frank Warren voiced his disapproval, suggesting the verdict was unjust, while Fury himself stormed out of the ring, refusing to engage with the media after the match.
Fury, visibly frustrated, later claimed he believed he had done enough to win the fight. “I thought I won that fight. I thought I won both fights, but now I have two losses on my record,” he said. “I stayed aggressive, kept moving forward, landed solid shots to the body and the head. Frank [Warren] had me up by at least three rounds. A lot of people thought I was leading by two. But there’s nothing I can do now. You don’t get the knockout, you leave it to the judges, and this is what happens.”
In a post-fight exchange, a Ukrainian journalist asked if Usyk’s performance might have been fueled by the resilient spirit of his war-torn homeland. Fury responded dismissively: “I didn’t feel no spirit. I felt a bit of Christmas spirit in there. I think he got a Christmas gift from those judges.”
Adding another layer to the post-fight analysis was an AI scoring system, which had no official impact on the result but also sided with Usyk. When informed about the AI verdict, Fury’s reaction was brief and predictable, offering a few dismissive words about the machine’s judgment.
Despite Fury’s objections, the statistics painted a clearer picture. Across all rounds, Usyk consistently outperformed his opponent in terms of accuracy and volume. The Ukrainian landed 42.3% of his total punches, significantly higher than Fury’s 28.3%. While their power punch numbers were relatively even, Usyk’s jab was more effective throughout the fight.
Following the announcement of the decision, British heavyweight Daniel Dubois entered the ring and called out Usyk for a future bout. The Ukrainian champion, still riding high from his victory, accepted the challenge without hesitation.
Ultimately, while Fury and his team dispute the outcome, the numbers and the judges agree: Oleksandr Usyk was the better fighter on the night. With another statement win under his belt, Usyk solidifies his status as one of the most skilled and disciplined heavyweights in the sport today.
