Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury for the second time in 2024, securing a unanimous decision to retain his unified heavyweight titles at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday. The judges scored the bout 116-112 in Usyk’s favor, extending his undefeated professional record to 23-0 with 14 knockouts.
The rematch echoed their first encounter in May, where Usyk handed Fury his first professional loss via a split decision. Once again, the Ukrainian champion outmaneuvered the British fighter with superior speed, precise body shots, and relentless pacing, dominating the later rounds.
Fury began the fight strongly, landing a powerful strike in the opening round that briefly staggered Usyk. However, Usyk maintained his composure, countering effectively and wearing down Fury with pinpoint body shots. By the sixth round, Usyk landed a decisive overhand left, while Fury’s attempts to rally in subsequent rounds proved ineffective against Usyk’s increasing intensity.
With this victory, Usyk solidifies his position among boxing legends like Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis, becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era. He relinquished his IBF title earlier this year to focus on the rematch, retaining the WBA, WBO, and WBC belts.
The loss leaves Fury, now 34-2-1, facing an uncertain future. The 36-year-old former champion, who briefly retired in 2022, returned for this high-stakes rematch but fell short in his bid to reclaim the titles.
Usyk’s illustrious career, spanning Olympic gold and undisputed championships in two weight divisions, continues to cement his legacy as one of the greatest fighters in boxing history.
