Tyson Fury chop beating from Oleksandr Usyk di second time
Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images
- Author, Kal Sajad
- Role, BBC Sport journalist at Kingdom Arena, Riyadh
- Read am in 4 mins
Oleksandr Usyk defeat Tyson Fury to retain im unified heavyweight world titles and prove im status as a generational great wit anoda close points win in dia rematch for Saudi Arabia.
Afta e inflict a first career defeat on Briton Fury by split decision for May, Usyk determination to win once again prevail for Riyadh Kingdom Arena - and e retain im WBA (Super), WBC and WBO titles.
Fury, 36, find success for di first half of di fight. Some of di more eye-catching shots come from di Morecambe fighter, but di volume of punches and cleaner work na from Ukrainian Usyk.
All three judges score am 116-112 to di 37-year-old champion.
Usyk, wey be Olympic gold medallist and former undisputed cruiserweight champion, extend im undefeated record to 23 pro wins.
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"Im [Tyson Fury] na great fighter, na great opponent. An unbelievable 24 rounds for my career. Thank you so much," Usyk tok.
Na only Oleksandr Usyk don beat Tyson Fury wey be two-time world champion, and di two defeats na major stains on a record wey also consist of 34 wins and draw.
Fury leave di ring witout conducting interview, bifor IBF world champion Daniel Dubois climb in and call for a rematch wit Usyk.
A visibly frustrated figure in di moments afta dem read out di scorecards, Fury tok for backstage say im dey convinced say e win di fight by "at least three rounds".
Superstar Usyk showcase elite level boxing
Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images
Di rematch wey dem call Usyk v Fury 'reignited', di two most technically gifted heavyweights serve up anoda classic and showcase elite level boxing.
Di Gypsy King bin dey for playful mood wit uncommon ring entrance to 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' by Mariah Carey's.
Dressed as Father Christmas, Fury bin still dey sport di bushy beard wey dem clear at a rules meeting afta protests from Usyk team.
Usyk march to di ring in super-quick time. Wearing a robe like warrior, e crouch for di corner to recite a prayer.
After 11-minute face-off on Thursday, Fury and Usyk pick up wia dem bin stop, dia eyes dey fixed on each oda as dem meet for di centre of di ring.
Non of dem over-commit in a cagey opening round. Fury showboat im way through di first fight but more seriousness dey for im work here. E wobble Usyk for di closing seconds of di second.
Wit advantage of six inches in height, eight inches in reach and four stone in weight, Fury bin use im physicality to keep Usyk at range.
But just as e do for di first fight, Usyk find success targeting Fury bodi.
Two ogbonge left hooks land on Fury for di fourth. "Keep am basic. E dey run around - slow am down," trainer SugarHill Steward tell Fury afta di fifth.
Model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and actor husband Jason Statham watch from plush ringside seats, alongside ogbonge list of boxing royalty including Roberto Duran, Lennox Lewis and Prince Naseem Hamed.
Usyk unleash ogbonge combination in di 11th. As Fury don dey momentarily hurt, di champion apply di pressure.
Out of both of dem, na Fury look desperate pass as Usyk finish di fight on top.
Best of era Usyk running out of opponents
Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images
Two close defeats by a fighter of Usyk calibre no point to a sharp decline in Fury ability. On anoda day, wit anoda set of judges, e fit be different result.
"I dey really disappointed. We gatz see wetin happun in di future for Tyson. I tink im bin dey in control, e box really well and get Usyk on im back foot," promoter Frank Warren tok.
Fury na enigma: a boxer wey be say even wen im refuse to engage wit di media or sell a fight as e do dis week - e dey able to emit a certain energy and draw in a crowd.
Anthony Joshua also dey at crossroads afta destructive defeat by Dubois. Now fit be di perfect time for di long-awaited all-British heavyweight tussle.
Meanwhile, Usyk fit rightly call di shots on im next move.
Dubois, wey Usyk stop last year, still get am for mind afta di referee decision to rule a punch wey drop di Ukrainian earlier in di fight as a low blow.
Usyk don also previously hint say e fit move back down cruiserweight. Di discipline e go take to lose di weight and recondition imsef dey indicative of a man wey dey forever chase greatness and new challenges.
Di Crimea-born fighter certainly get options, but di best of im era dey run out of credible opponents.
