Fury vs Usyk 2 LIVE: Result and reaction as ‘Gypsy King’ rages at judges after heavyweight title rematch
The biggest rematch of the year saw the champion edge out Fury once again in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Tyson Fury’s mission to avenge his only professional defeat ended in crushing disappointment as he lost on a unanimous points decision to unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh.
Another classic encounter between the well-matched rivals ended with Usyk retaining his WBC, WBA and WBO belts by finishing 116-112 ahead on all three judges’ scorecards, with an upset Fury storming out of the ring.
It was a fair reflection of the Ukrainian’s control of the rematch given he set the pace for most of the 12 rounds and was the harder worker, landing more frequently and with greater impact.
But that was not the view of Fury, who labelled the result an “early Christmas gift” from the judges to Usyk, or his promoter Frank Warren, who described the decision as “nuts”, “crazy” and “a nonsense”.
Usyk’s performance confirmed his status as an all-time great and the 37-year-old will now look to become undisputed champion for the second time by toppling IBF champion Daniel Dubois. Relive the fight with round-by-round updates below, plus all the reaction from the Kingdom Arena:
Usyk v Fury 2
Round 12
Fury almost slapping the right jab with a backhand, Fury then clubbing the right uppercut there.
Swiping shots, it’s aggressive, two minutes left... Joshua has it 105-104 to Usyk.
Fury with a good one-two... He’s got to go for it now.
Fury is tagged twice on the ropes, he roars and comes back, this one is closer, but Fury needs more!
Usyk v Fury 2
Round 11
Six minutes, will Fury change something and take a risk? Darren Barker says Team Fury look nervous ringside. Barry Jones has flipped and believes Usyk is ahead, Sergio Mora says the champ is “comfortably ahead”. But Joshua has it level, he gave the 10th to Fury.
Fury clings on then leaves a gap down low for Usyk to deliver four body shots. Lovely work.
That’s a big left! Huge shot! Fury took it well though, but Usyk bringing out the big shots late here.
Fury pushed back and now throwing much in return. But Fury does bring a right uppercut on the bell as he peels away from the ropes. One more round... “Your moment is now,” says SugarHill. Spencer Brown, Fury’s manager tells DAZN he thinks it’s even.
Usyk v Fury 2
Round 10
Usyk with a cut to his left eye, Fury then rams a right down the middle, aggressive start to the round. He grabs Usyk and is forced to separate, a mostly clean fight in fairness.
Joshua gave Fury the last round, that closes it up to a 5-4 lead to Usyk on his card.
Thudding shot from Fury, but as he leans in another big left from Usyk. Both men grappling towards the end of the 10th, really going for it as a gap briefly opens up. Then BANG! Clean left and Fury held on, he took it well.
Another body shot ripples Fury’s mid-section, Fury with the gamesmanship, throwing his head from side to side. But another Usyk round, you would think, now down a couple for Indy Sport.
Usyk v Fury 2
Round 9
Good body shot from Fury! And another one, two in fact, left and then a right, but Usyk returned the favour with a left hook.
Usyk jabbing low to the body. AJ has Usyk two points up through eight.
Clean jab from Usyk, then a great combination, Fury’s gut ripples and then he takes one more up top too.
Usyk brushes the gut once more, another left, this is a punishing pace for Fury to cope with.
Usyk v Fury 2
Round 8
The fight is in the balance here, Fury with a clubbing left hook, Usyk scurries away.
But then the champion launches in with a pair of hooks that brush Fury’s head. It’s another good Usyk round as he storms into range at the end there, real purpose to his work tonight and not merely content to dance and pinch the rounds.
Oscar De La Hoya urging Fury to keep busy. Joshua has Usyk up following the seventh...
Usyk has landed 11 more punches now and thrown five less...
Usyk v Fury 2
Round 7
Usyk just outlanding Fury for now, 37-25, with connection rate 72 percent to Fury’s 62 percent. Barry Jones still has this for Fury...
Usyk’s upperbody movement is a problem, Fury pokes out the jab, he then takes another heavy left. Usyk has flipped this fight in the last four minutes after Fury’s own mini wave of momentum.
Fury feeling the pace, sucks in some air, back in southpaw, he clings on after Usyk lunges in and lands again.
After six rounds, Joshua had this even, his card in full:
- R1: Fury
- R2: Fury
- R3: Usyk
- R4: Usyk
- R5: Fury
- R6: Usyk
Usyk v Fury 2
Round 6
Can Usyk change it here? This gameplan is effective from Fury: Take the middle of the ring, walk Usyk down and tag him to the body.
Joshua has Fury up 48-47 now... A great one-two from Fury, fast and accurate hands, but Usyk is back in front and showing angles to keep Fury on his toes.
Another clean shot to Fury’s body, the combinations coming out now, a left lands upstairs, it’s majestic boxing.
OH! Usyk with a heavy shot, to Fury’s head, he dabs at the left eye... That hurt him. Tagging him for fun in the final 30 seconds.
Usyk v Fury 2
Round 5
Fury’s round again, for Joshua, 38-38... Interesting.
Fury with a big shot, Usyk holds on, that shook him a little, now Fury leans on the champ, hoping to impose that size advantage. Usyk now dabbing at his nose.
Centre of the ring, still, Fury is growing in confidence, down low to the body, attritional damage. Fury doing a lot of work in there, but another right to the body, Usyk responds, a grin from the champ as he absorbs one in return. Fury in the ascendency!
Usyk v Fury 2
Round 4
Was the third Fury’s round? Perhaps. These are close, Barry Jones believes Fury is winning the fight, so a different view. But Usyk has outlanded Fury 29-23 with a higher connection rate 40 percent to 23 percent. Those numbers reflect what Joshua has seen. AJ gives the third to Fury, 29-28 to Usyk on his card.
Fury taking the centre of the ring... But BANG! Big left hand from Usyk, a huge shot, Usyk rewarded for that activity and intent.
Usyk ducks under and out of range, but Fury times a right, then the body...
What a round! Usyk’s round, you might think, based off that big left.
“It could go either way,” Dubois says at ringside. “I don’t know [if Fury needs to attack the body], let the best man win. It’s just a good fight. Of course, I’m here for that [facing the winner].”
Usyk v Fury 2
Round 3
A shot to the back of the head lands on Usyk, he has a grumble... Fury rolling out of trouble, leading with that left shoulder as a shell.
It’s 2-0 to Usyk, according to ‘AJ’, fascinating insight from a man who shared 24 rounds with the Ukrainian remember.
Good work from Fury with the jab, a classy match this. Usyk bounces one to the top of Fury’s head. A jab to the body lands for Fury, that’s better. Fury back in a southpaw stance, blood to the nose of Usyk, is he turning the screw a little? That was closer.
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