On a night full of drama right to the end of the 12-round contest in Riyadh, Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk defeated Britain’s Tyson Fury by points to retain his WBA, WBO, and WBC heavyweight titles. The three judges of the fight all scored one-sided victories for Usyk, defeating Fury 116-112 to further his unbeaten record.
Usyk, 37, becomes the only man to defeat Fury, 36, in his professional career. The win further solidifies Usyk’s legacy as one of boxing’s all-time greats. Speaking to BBC Sport after the fight, Usyk said, “I win, it’s good. Thank you, God,” before praising Fury as a “great fighter” for their grueling 24 rounds across two bouts.
The defeat now casts a shadow of doubt on Fury’s future in the sport; he had first retired in 2022 before getting back into the ring.
Meanwhile, speculation surrounds Usyk’s next opponent. Britain’s Daniel Dubois, in attendance for the fight, could be next in line for the Ukrainian. When asked about a potential matchup, Usyk confidently stated, “No problem, I am ready. Next fight, no problem.”
Usyk’s victory underscores his dominance in the heavyweight division, with fans eagerly awaiting his next challenge.
