Oleksandr Usyk wins heavyweight rematch to silence Tyson Fury in Riyadh boxing

Oleksandr Usyk remains the shining king of the dark and chaotic world of boxing. The legendary Ukrainian retained his three titles as heavyweight champion of the world by defeating Tyson Fury on points in a decisive contest on Sunday morning in Riyadh. Usyk boxed with clinical authority to win clearly on all three cards by a score of 116–112.

The speed was incredible and ultimately, Usyk was too fast, too smart and too skilled for Fury. His speed, accuracy and punching accuracy were too much for Fury, who tried valiantly and had moments of success. But Fury flagged and looked tired at key moments of the bout as Usyk pulled away to ensure his comprehensive victory.

Fury walked out to Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ at the start, in a red and white gown and with his big bushy beard, which he had allowed to grow wild and free during his long training camp, something -Looked like Santa. Usyk, meanwhile, moved quickly toward the ring with a deep seriousness of purpose and an expression of fierce intensity on his face. Once between the ropes he knelt in his corner and prayed.

Some in the crowd chanted his name as both fighters walked to the center of the ring for the referee’s final instructions.

Fury, who weighed 50 pounds more than Usyk, was particularly muscular around the midriff as they chased each other around the center of the ring. Usyk, despite being a much smaller man, was intent on finding a way to get on the front foot but Fury landed his jab effectively and took the first two rounds. But Usyk set up intense pace puzzles and won his third and fourth when he briefly rocked Fury.

Fury’s best round of the fight was the fifth, when he used his trademark uppercut with tremendous force. Usyk was forced to retreat at the end of the round, but in the sixth, as the pace slowed for the first time, the champion landed Fury with a powerful left.

There was still a tie midway through the fight, but by the seventh round, Usyk began to dominate. The huge weight difference seemed to work against the heavily loaded Fury, who was beginning to tire and take deep breaths. Usyk’s lateral movement and clinical punching enabled him to take the lead and in the final third of the bout there was no doubt that he would retain his title.

As the lights shone on both fighters, the sweat on Fury’s back was an indication of how much effort he was being forced to exert. Usyk, true to his Cat nickname, bobbed, weaved and skittered, spinning in and out, and then delivered powerful punches that left his opponent bruised and bruised on the face.

But a defeated Fury still fought bravely and there were some brutal exchanges in the final round. Fury landed some heavy shots in search of the knockout, but Usyk did not back down and fired back. It was an exciting end to an entertaining contest.

This was another extraordinary achievement for Usyk. The former undisputed world cruiserweight champion repeated this feat at heavyweight – which is obviously one division above his natural weight – and he remains the WBA, WBC and WBO champion. Boxing politics meant that the IBF belt was stripped from him in the summer and handed to Daniel Dubois – whom Usyk had defeated the previous year. But there can be no doubt about the seriousness or brilliance of a true champion.

After suffering a split decision loss to Usyk in their first fight in May, Fury took a 12-week training camp to prepare himself for the rematch. He apparently didn’t speak to his wife, Paris, once during the isolation of that brutal training regime and insisted last week that his focus on Usyk has been serious and constant.

But Fury also packed on extra weight in an apparent strategy to use his massive bulk to physically dominate Usyk. Due to his height advantage – Fury was half a foot taller than Usyk – the 36-year-old from Morecambe, Lancashire was intent on trying to upset the indomitable champion. Fury’s tactics did not work against a superior fighter.

Earlier this week, Usyk, 37, had to be coaxed into considering his impact on his country’s shattered morale. Trying to ease his position, Usyk told a touching story of how news of his victory last May spread to the front lines of Ukrainian troops. When he heard that he had overcome all obstacles to defeat Fury, his tiredness turned to joy.

A second consecutive win over their giant rival will feel even more pleasing now.

Usyk raised his arms, relief and joy flowing through him. This remarkable champion and his beleaguered but defiant nation deserve praise for his enduring supremacy.