Usyk triumphs and Fury disheartened after long-awaited rematch

After Oleksandr Usyk’s victory over Tyson Fury in May last year, the pair took to the ring once again on December 21st for a much-anticipated rematch, which also saw the Ukrainian athlete triumphant. Usyk maintained his unbeaten record, adding a 23rd win to his ever growing tally, as well as retaining his unified heavyweight world titles.

Although Fury had a clear advantage physically, Usyk was once again able to target the British fighter’s body

In the fight’s early stages, Fury was met with success, however it was the sheer volume of Usyk’s punches (which were often much cleaner and much more accurate than his opponent’s) that gave the former Olympian the upper hand. After choosing to showboat in the first fight, Fury’s attitude had completely changed, and this time he chose to take a much more serious approach.

Although Fury had a clear advantage physically (with 6 inches extra height, 8 inches extra reach and 55 pounds extra weight) Usyk was once again able to target the British fighter’s body. It was halfway through the fight, in Round 6, when Fury’s energy began to drop along with his pace. He eventually found a second wind in Round 9, and the fight seemed to have been completely reignited.

This remained the case until Round 11, when an impressive combination from Usyk left Fury hurt, and allowed the Ukrainian fighter to up the stakes going into the final round, leaving Fury looking desperate in the match’s closing seconds.

Fury publicly stated that there was ‘no doubt in my mind, I won the fight’

After Usyk’s victory was announced, Fury left the ring almost immediately, choosing not to offer an interview, but declared backstage that he believed he had won the match “by at least three rounds”. Later, in a press conference, he publicly stated that there was “no doubt in my mind, I won the fight”. After his festive entrance, adorned in Christmas themed attire and accompanied by Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You, Fury concluded that Usyk received “a little Christmas gift from the judges”.

Boxing promoter, Frank Warren also offered his opinion, explaining that he “thought (Fury) was in control, boxed really well and had Usyk on his back foot”. Usyk himself complimented his rival’s ability, declaring him “a great fighter, he is a great opponent”.

So what is the next logical step for both fighters? For Usyk, the best case scenario would be retirement. He would be able to end his career on a high, maintaining his unbeaten record, and avoiding further inevitable injury or potential damage to his legacy. However, with the war continuing in Usyk’s homeland, would he turn down another multi-million dollar payout, and another opportunity to support his country and family?

Could we finally see the long-awaited Fury vs Joshua fight?

Fellow heavyweight boxer, Daniel Dubois, stepped into the ring after the fight, demanding a rematch with the Ukrainian, who triumphed over the British fighter in 2023 with a Round 9 knockout. Dubois was seeking “revenge”, after a powerful punch, which floored the Ukrainian was considered a “low blow” by the judges. A win for Usyk in that fight would see him crowned undisputed heavyweight world champion, adding to his previous title of undisputed cruiserweight world champion.

In terms of Fury’s next steps, after adding two losses to his otherwise successful record, the Brit definitely has something to prove. Could we finally see the long-awaited Fury vs Joshua fight? With both men far from prime condition, the fight no longer holds the excitement and anticipation that it once did, but could this be exactly what Fury needs to prove not only to the world, but also to himself, that his form isn’t declining?