Oleksandr Usyk was victorious over Tyson Fury defending his WBC, WBO, and IBO heavyweight championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Saturday.
All three judges had the fight scored at 116-112. Everyone agreed that Usyk was the fighter who controlled the action and was the most effective boxer in the ring.
116-112
116-112
116-112AND STILL…. Oleksandr Usyk defeats Tyson Fury in the rematch ????????#Usyk2Fury | BUY NOW on TNT Sports Box Office ▶️ https://t.co/FXWiFF98Ej pic.twitter.com/p4A8TdUKiv
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) December 21, 2024
New game plan for Fury
Tyson Fury’s game plan was very clear: he wanted to come out aggressive early on in the fight. That plan worked as he constantly found success against the current WBC, WBO, and IBO heavyweight champion.
Fury kept the fight close by staying busy, his career high weight of 281 did not slow him down. Despite the weight gain, Fury showed that he was in good shape. Unfortunately, Fury wasn’t able to overcome the hand speed of Usyk. Throwing and landing combinations is what separated the champion in this fight.
Through the first half of the fight, the advantage was for Fury as he was mixing his jabs and was also very effective to the body. The strategy seemed to throw off Usyk. Fury’s hand speed and footwork certainly were throwing off Usyk, but Usyk continued to battle and work himself into a grove. The best trait that Usyk has as a fighter is that he constantly works and makes infight adjustments. Those adjustments started to pay off for him as he started to land some really good power shots on Fury. In the end, it was Usyk’s work rate and success in landing his combinations that won the fight for the champion.
Fans reactions
The match received mixed reviews from some fans, while others felt like the better boxer won.
Wanted usyk to win but that scorecard 116-112 is a disgrace to tyson fury#UsykFury2
— | (@APxLFC) December 21, 2024
#UsykFury2 The commentators to Fury pic.twitter.com/34leAh4hvJ
— reissy ???????? (@reisssy) December 21, 2024
Fucking glad that Dirty ass Fighter Fury lost. WE WON, THE SPORT OF BOXING WON. #UsykFury2 pic.twitter.com/NPeg6uuP4j
— AWURED0 (@AOUREDOO) December 21, 2024
Fury and his “shorts” #UsykFury2 pic.twitter.com/33uoLJn2HI
— bert (@bertsesh) December 21, 2024
Everyone at home watching Daniel Dubois crash the post match interview. #UsykFury2 pic.twitter.com/c5jm9NDc3A
— Stephen Patten (@StevePatten) December 21, 2024
Tyson Fury’s strategy in the opening 3 #UsykFury2 pic.twitter.com/J6ApsxZMyU
— Craig???????????????????????????? (@ctfleming1869) December 21, 2024
Christ, Tyson Fury's shorts are higher than Snoop Dog
#UsykFury2 pic.twitter.com/k9kQkwq860
— Gene McGurk (@magawk) December 21, 2024
Not that great of a fight . 1st one was a lot better #UsykFury2
— HIM DUNCAN⚡️ (@stackztootrill) December 21, 2024
Think the right man won, which somewhat negates my concerns with the scorecards.. Usyk is just different, he is never just doing nothing… Which has twice proven a little too much for Fury. Genuine greatness wins the day.. Horror cards tho, was not that wide. #UsykFury2 #Repeat
— Chris Connolly (@connolly_corner) December 21, 2024
I’m a big fan of Usyk, truly believe he is the best boxer of our generation with what he has achieved, but that was a draw. There is no chance Usyk won 8 of the 12 rounds. I feel bad for Fury. He did much better overall in the 2nd fight but was given a harsher result #UsykFury2
— Mithos (@MithosTree) December 21, 2024
The only reason he claimed Bivol won against Beterbiev was because of the potential rematch money he’d pocket from it. He’s done the same thing with other fighters in the past, like Josh Taylor. Eddie’s narrative is always driven by profit, not honesty. ☝️#UsykFury2 pic.twitter.com/5rcSukgUZO
— Honest Combat Sports Fan (@HonestCombatFan) December 21, 2024
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
