Oleksandr Usyk cements his all-time great status with second victory over Tyson Fury in Riyadh

Ukrainian claims unanimous points verdict at Kingdom Arena to retain three versions of the heavyweight title

Boxing - Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury - Heavyweight World Title - Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - December 22, 2024 Tyson Fury in action against Oleksandr Usyk Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Couldridge TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Usyk and Fury exchange blows. Reuters

Fury goes on the attack against Usyk. Reuters

Usyk and Fury trade in the middle of the ring. Reuters

Usyk and Fury trade in the middle of the ring. Reuters

Usyk and Fury stand in the ring during the announcement of the winner. AFP

Fury and Usyk embrace at the end. AFP

Oleksandr Usyk speaks to the media after his victory. Getty Images

Tyson Fury during a press conference following his defeat. PA

General view before the fight at Kingdom Arena. Reuters

Ukraine's Usyk arrives for the heavyweight world championship rematch. AFP

Ukraine's Usyk stands up for his national anthem. AFP

Fury arrives for the heavyweight world championship rematch. AFP

Team Usyk celebrate their win at the end. Getty Images

Oleksandr Usyk removed any doubt as to his status as the greatest heavyweight of this generation as he claimed a unanimous decision victory over Tyson Fury in their rematch in Riyadh on Saturday night.

Usyk was a deserved winner in a tense and close contest, getting the verdict by scores of 116-112, or eight rounds to four, on all three of the ringside scorecards. An AI-powered judge, trialled at the event in an experiment that had no influence on the official result, had it even wider at 118-112.

The victory followed Usyk's split decision triumph in their first meeting in May and saw him retain his WBC, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles. He also remains undefeated with a perfect 23-0 record and a list of achievements that makes him one of the most decorated fighters of all time.

As an amateur he was world, European and Olympic champion, while as a professional he has won all four versions of both the cruiserweight and heavyweight titles. To underline his greatness, the 37-year-old has now beaten Anthony Joshua twice, Fury twice, and also Daniel Dubois, who holds the IBF title.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy led the tributes, as he posted on X: “Victory! So important and so needed by all of us right now. By defending his championship belt, Oleksandr Usyk proves we are Ukrainians and we will not give up what is ours! No matter how hard it gets – we will overcome everything. Whether it is in the ring, on the battlefield or in the diplomatic arena – we will fight and we will not give up what is ours! Congratulations on your victory, Cossack! Congratulations on your victory, Ukraine! Glory to Ukraine!”

Fury set out to correct the errors that saw him lose for the first time in his career in May as he took the centre of the ring early on. The rounds were high on tension if not activity but you got the impression that Usyk was doing enough to bank them.

Fury improved in the fourth and had his best round on the night in the fifth as he landed to body and head. As he so often does, Usyk bounced back to sweep the next three. Fury adjusted and had a better ninth and 10th, but it was Usyk who closed the show with his sharp and accurate work seeing him dominate the 11th and 12th.

Usyk fell to his knees as the result was read out, while Fury escaped the ring and later claimed Usyk had been gifted an early Christmas present by the judges.

His promoter Frank Warren said he was “dumbfounded” by both the result and the wide margin of victory – and Fury agreed.

“I felt a little Christmas spirit in there and I think he got a little Christmas gift from them judges. An early Christmas gift,” said Fury.

“I was confident I had won that fight again. I thought I’d won both fights but then again I’ve gone home with two losses on my record. I will always believe until the day I die that I won that fight.

“I’m not going to cry over spilt milk. It’s happened now. I know boxing, I’ve been in it all my life, and you can’t change no decisions.

“I will always feel a little bit hard done by. Not a little bit, actually a lot. When you don’t get the knockout, this is what happens. You can’t guarantee the win.”

Fury, 36, said he will take time to reflect on his future, which after back to back losses is now up in the air even if an all-British clash against Joshua still retains mass appeal.

When asked if we will see him fighting again, he replied: “You might do, you might not do. Who knows. We’ll talk about that next year.

“What’s next for me? I’m going home and having some time off. For sure. I’m going to go home and have a good Christmas. I’ve been away 12 weeks working for this fight.

“I’m going to go home now and enjoy it. We’re on for a nice Christmas in the Fury house and thank God we’re both out of the ring in one piece.”

Usyk called upon Saudi Arabia’s boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh to arrange a rematch with Dubois after Britain’s IBF champion entered the ring during the post-fight interviews.

Dubois was knocked out in the ninth round by Usyk in August 2023 but has rebuilt impressively since then, culminating in his explosive victory over Joshua in October.

“I want my revenge. I want my revenge Usyk! Well done tonight, well done. God bless. I want my revenge for the robbery last time. Let’s go, let’s go. Make it happen Frank!” Dubois said.

Usyk replied: “Your excellency, make the fight with Daniel Dubois. Thank you so much.

“I can do more. I’m ready to fight (Dubois), no problem. Next fight no problem. Now I want to go home and rest.”

Usyk paid tribute to Fury having engaged in the second classic encounter of a compelling rivalry.

“He’s a great fighter, a great opponent and it was a great 24 rounds. Unbelievable 24 rounds in my career. Thank you so much,” Usyk said.