Ukrainian heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk retains all four WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight boxing championship belts after again besting his British rival Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
Despite another closely-matched fight between the pair, judges were unanimous in the points decision, with all three scoring the fight 116-112 in the 37-year-old Usyk’s favor.
Smaller, more mobile Usyk finds gaps in Fury’s defenses
Despite giving up advantages in height, weight and reach to his opponent, Usyk was the harder worker during the rematch and also landed punches more frequently and with greater impact.
Late in the sixth round, in particular, a combination of a right hand to the body followed by a left to the forehead from Usyk seemed to shake Fury, but the bell soon intervened.
Asked after the decision if he felt the judges’ verdict was fair, Usyk shrugged and indicated it wasn’t for him to say.
“I win, it’s good … I’m not the judges, I’m a sportsman, I’m an athlete,” he said, before praising his sons who he said had been involved in judo competitions earlier on Saturday.
The usually talkative Fury left the ring without speaking, seemingly disappointed at defeat.
Saturday’s fight in Saudi Arabia was the pair’s second bout this year, after Usyk’s points win in May in the same arena.
Usyk is the first boxer to hold all four heavyweight titles simultaneously since Lennox Lewis did so for just a few months in 1999.
“The Cat” is in elite company on this front, with past heavyweight stars like Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Mike Tyson.
Zelenskyy lauds victory
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted soon after the decision in a post on Telegram.
“Victory! So important and so necessary for us now,” he said. “Having retained the championship belts, Oleksandr proves: we are Ukrainians and we will not give up what’s ours. And no matter how difficult it is — we will win.”
msh/mfi (dpa, Reuters)
