Usyk’s Dominance Over Fury: A Boxing Masterclass in Riyadh

Usyk’s Dominance Over Fury: A Boxing Masterclass in Riyadh

In the heart of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the boxing world witnessed a spectacle that will be talked about for years to come. With 24 rounds of intense rivalry behind them, Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury have etched their names into the annals of boxing history. The second bout between these two titans ended with Usyk once again emerging victorious, this time with a more decisive win than their first encounter. As the heavyweight champion celebrated, Fury leaned over and kissed his rival on the head, a gesture of respect that speaks volumes about the grueling nature of their battles.

The stakes were incredibly high for both fighters. Fury was on a quest to reclaim his titles and become a three-time champion, while Usyk was determined to solidify his status as the world’s best heavyweight. In the end, it was Usyk who pulled away in the later rounds, showcasing his superior skill and strategy.

Their initial meeting in May, which many consider the front-runner for ESPN’s Fight of the Year, established Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) as the world’s best heavyweight and the No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the ESPN rankings. The rematch was even more significant, as it reinforced Usyk’s dual status and cemented his legacy as the best heavyweight of his generation. Many now regard him as the greatest fighter in boxing’s glamour division since Lennox Lewis retired in 2004, elevating him to the status of an all-time great.

Usyk’s journey to this point is nothing short of remarkable. He first made waves in 2008 when he won gold at the amateur European Championships as a light heavyweight. At that time, his fellow Ukrainian, Wladimir Klitschko, was the reigning heavyweight champion in the professional ranks. Four years later, Usyk captured gold at the Olympic Games in London as a heavyweight, while Anthony Joshua won a gold medal at super heavyweight. As a professional, Usyk cleaned out the cruiserweight division as the undisputed champion and later defeated Joshua twice at heavyweight to become the unified champion.

The May split-decision victory over Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) earned Usyk, 37, the undisputed championship at heavyweight. In that fight, he came close to stopping Fury in Round 9, landing 14 unanswered punches and sending Fury to the canvas for the eighth time in his career.

Fast forward seven months, and the rematch lacked the dramatic moments of their first encounter. While the bout was entertaining, it didn’t reach the same level of excitement. Despite no knockdowns, Usyk’s victory was never in doubt, as he won via unanimous decision with scores of 116-112 across the board.

Usyk expressed his respect for Fury, stating, “I very respect this guy because I think he’s very tough… Tyson Fury makes me strong. Tyson is a great opponent. Big man. He’s a good man. Tyson, a lot of talk but it’s just show.”

Fury, however, was adamant that he deserved the win. When asked if he felt Usyk’s spirit in the bout, Fury quipped, “Yeah, Christmas spirit, he received a Christmas gift.”

Usyk conceded that this fight was easier than their first encounter. Fury, 36, showed flashes of brilliance, particularly when he switched stances and unleashed a southpaw jab followed by punishing left hands. However, like the first fight, he faded in the later rounds, losing Rounds 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11 on all three scorecards.

Fury reflected on the outcome, saying, “When you don’t get the knockout, this is what can happen… I did the best I could. If I could have done more, I would have done it, and that’s it.”

Usyk left no doubt that he was the superior fighter, even if many rounds were closely contested. A third bout between these two future Hall of Famers isn’t necessary. Over 24 rounds, Usyk proved that he was the better man, despite a significant weight disadvantage and giving up nearly six inches in height.

Looking ahead, Usyk’s career is far from over. There are tens of millions to be made as his star continues to rise, bringing more attention and pride to war-torn Ukraine. Daniel Dubois, whom Usyk KO’d in nine rounds in August 2023 in Poland, interrupted Usyk’s post-fight interview to call for a rematch.

• “I want my revenge,” said Dubois, who picked up the IBF title Usyk was stripped of in June with a fifth-round KO of Joshua in September.

Usyk quickly responded that he was ready for a rematch, but that fight won’t approach the marquee stage he enjoyed this year with two wins over Fury, one of the sport’s top stars. The first Dubois bout wasn’t remotely competitive, and Usyk scored the KO with a jab.

England’s Dubois has enjoyed an impressive run since, with three consecutive wins inside the distance, including TKO victories over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic before the upset of Joshua.

Dubois, however, must push past a tough test against former titleholder Joseph Parker on Feb. 22 in Riyadh. With Joshua and Fury out of the way for good, there’s no megafight on the horizon for Usyk.

Fury, meanwhile, could face Joshua in the loser’s bracket in a fight that will still be highly anticipated for their combined star power, especially in the U.K. And no matter where Fury goes from here, he’ll go down as an all-time great.

But he’ll always rank behind Usyk.