How brave Tyson Fury could not solve the Oleksandr Usyk conundrum: JEFF POWELL’S verdict on what proved decisive in the big fight
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury again to retain his unified world heavyweight titles in Saudi Arabia on Saturday evening.
The longer it went on, the more it became a masterclass from the greatest tactician and most dazzling technician of this and many other generations.
After handing Fury his first career defeat via split decision seven months ago, Usyk’s will once again proved decisive as he retained his WBA, WBC and WBO titles.
“This is what it means to be Ukrainian,” Usyk said as he celebrated his win. ‘I win, it’s good. I win, thank you God.”
However, Fury had a different opinion as he walked into his dressing room, suggesting he had won the fight by at least three rounds.
His manager Frank Warren was also not happy about it and said: ‘How come Tyson only got four rounds in this fight? It’s impossible. He is very disappointed, just like me. Everyone along 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 defeated his British counterpart (left) in their long-awaited rematch
Fury was consoled by Frank Warren (left) in the ring after the decision was announced
Meanwhile, IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois crashed Usyk’s interview, saying: ‘I want my chance, I want revenge.’
Usyk immediately responded to Dubois, saying, “No problem. I’m done. Next fight, no problem.”
Before they could even think about getting into limousines for the motorcades to the stadium along the makeshift race tracks that serve as highways here, there were log files in committee rooms for the Fury and Usyk teams.
Could the Gypsy King keep his Methuselah beard, grown in his long and isolated training camp? Or should it be shaved off or trimmed in case it would take the Kiev Cat’s punches or worsen the damage to his face?
It wasn’t determined that it would be a problem. Not least because no one seemed to know what the rule meant, or even whether there was one in the Saudi Boxing Authority schedules.
Who should replace the judge who was too ill to travel? The Ukrainians wanted a Panamanian, the British a second American. Deadlock until Fury’s promoter Frank Warren suggested a coin flip – and lost. Round one for Team Kiev.
Not that their hero seemed remotely concerned about either issue. Certainly not the latter, as as far as he was concerned this fight would start with the 13th round, meaning 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 cool.
He remained calm during that record-setting 11 minutes and 20 seconds as he stared down fight week until Tyson could no longer stop himself from hurling a slew of insults.
After the final bell, Ukrainian star Usyk fell to his knees and looked at the sky
Fury fought well but ultimately came up short in his fight for the Gypsy King that night
Daniel Dubois demanded a rematch with Usyk after his victory over Fury
The Kingdom Arena awaiting them is covered, after all, but with temperatures dropping after dark this month, which saw desert snowfall recorded for the first time in Saudi history, it was still a cold environment.
As for the single-rod heaters known as human beings: this is a kingdom of the night.
The scorching heat for most of the year ensures that work, play and national shopping do not begin until late afternoon at the earliest. With the peak hour for restaurant reservations being earlier eleven than seven. As for boxing, since big fights like this take place in the ring around 2 a.m., the room is hardly filled before the witching hour.
Almost at the stroke of midnight, locals came rushing in, warming up the room and the atmosphere. Screenshots of Fury and Usyk’s arrival showed their preference for the champion. Fury always has his supporters, but there were fewer fellow travelers 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 get swoons from their good ladies.
The locker room camera zoomed in on Fury’s bare-chested, gloved figure. Visible evidence there of how he has ballooned to a career-high weight of 20 stone. His gesture to the holidays was to walk to the ring dressed as Santa Claus. Hopefully the first of many points scored before Usyk rejoins him in the fray. That beard was bushier than ever, and Usyk’s shaved head was a stunning contrast. In terms of size, it was truly David v Goliath.
Fury’s first right sent Usyk staggering back across the ring. Fury’s fast start was canceled out by some quick two-fisted interventions from the champion.
Fury’s intent was a welcome contrast to his showboating behavior at the start of the first fight. Sharp jabs from Fury and a couple of big rights in the second round put him on the scorecard. Was he going for a quick finish, you wondered?
Tyson walked into Usyk at the start of the third round. It was he who was going to go for the body, but Usyk cleverly turned that around with attacks on the huge figure in front of him.
It was an exciting battle, although it was the Ukrainian who came out on top
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 as Usyk sent splashes flying, but Fury’s work came at the edge of the round. It was an exciting affair, with a lot of tension in the arena.
Fury soon started working with left-right combinations and despite clever answers, the Brit was back on level terms.
But the champion showed what he’s got with some fantastic work in the sixth, rushing in and out towards a climax of three spine-tingling left hooks that worried his opponent.
A more watchful round ensued from both, but Usyk stepped in and out to make the few punches exchanged even more evident.
Usyk complained about a butt in the eighth. The referee was unconvinced, but the Ukrainian exacted his own retribution with a succession of left hooks that rocked the challenger.
Now the crowd really got more involved as it seemed more and more likely that we would go all the way.
More vintage work from Usyk in the ninth continued to push Fury back, and the British fighter might now have slowed down.
In the 10th round of an increasingly compelling encounter, Fury finally unleashed a huge right, but Usyk staggered him at the end with a sustained barrage.
Fury refused to see his wife Paris – pictured on the night – for three months in the run-up
The left, a sinister blow, now sparked concern for Fury, one after another, leaving him staggering around the ring in a daze.
And so until the end. A desperate Fury went for a Hail Mary, and ate more leather for his trouble. Fury was brave and fought back, but lacked the sharpness to have any real effect.
At the finish, Usyk knelt in supplication before the crowd. Fury raised a fist hopefully.
We didn’t have to wait long for the verdict. All three judges scored the fight 116-112 in favor of Usyk.