RIYAD.- Seven months after his first victory, the Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk beat the British again Tyson Fury this Saturday in Riyadh by a unanimous decision of the judges and thus retained his world heavyweight belts.
At 37 years old, Usyk imposed his rhythm on the fight and repeatedly hit Fury with his left hook. The judges gave him the victory on points (116-112) and the Ukrainian remains undefeated in the 23 fights he has fought.
There was therefore no replacement on the heavyweight throne, where Usyk kept the three belts he was putting at stake, those of the World Association (WBA), the World Council (WBC) and the World Organization (WBO) of Boxing.
In the fight between the two in May, also in the Saudi capital, Usyk became the undisputed champion by winning all four belts in the category, thus being the first absolute heavyweight champion in 25 years, since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
Since then, he gave up the International Boxing Federation (IBF) belt to the British Daniel Dubois without fighting and that is why there were three and not four belts in contention in the Riyadh ring.
In May, Fury, 36 years old and who came into this rematch weighing 25 kilos more than his opponent, had suffered the first defeat of a career full of ups and downs due to episodes of depression and problems with addictions. Now he registers the second, against the same rival.
Also like seven months ago, the fight was decided on points, by decision of the judges after twelve rounds.
national icon
Usyk has become a national symbol for Ukraine and one of the first to congratulate him on this new victory was the president of his country, Volodymyr Zelensky.
“By keeping the championship belts, Oleksandr proves what we Ukrainians are like and that we will not abandon what belongs to us,” Zelensky celebrated on Telegram.
“Whatever the difficulties, we will win. Whether in the ring, on the battlefield or in the diplomatic arena,” he noted.
