On Sunday, December 22, 2024, Oleksandr Usyk asserted his dominance in the heavyweight division by defeating Tyson Fury once again via unanimous decision in a thrilling rematch held in Saudi Arabia. With identical scores of 116-112 by all three judges, Usyk not only retained his world titles, but also cemented his legacy as one of the greatest boxers of all time.

Known for his precision and technical skills, the Ukrainian dictated the pace of the fight from the start. Thanks to his strategic dominance and distinctive left kicks, Usyk outclassed the Briton in the exchange of decisive blows, raising his record to 23 wins without a loss, including 14 knockouts.

“He’s a great fighter and he did a great job,” Usyk said after the fight. At 37, the undisputed heavyweight champion continues to rack up accomplishments, including an unbeaten streak in the heavyweight division and an Olympic gold medal.

Usyk expressed his gratitude to Fury, describing him as a “tough opponent” and adding that the 24 rounds the two shared were “amazing” for his career.

Tyson Fury, who had been unbeaten in his first 35 fights until May this year, disagreed with the result. “It’s not fair to me,” said a frustrated Briton. “I feel like I won both fights, but now I have two losses on my record. There’s not much I can do about it.”

His promoter Frank Warren called the judges’ decision “crazy,” while Usyk jokingly dismissed the complaints, calling Warren “crazy.”

The fight that captured the attention of millions of boxing fans was a real battle. Fury, with his massive physique of 127.4 kg, tried to impose his power in the opening rounds, landing many punches and using his straight strikes to keep Usyk at bay. However, the Ukrainian boxer responded with precision and flexibility, punishing Fury with powerful blows to the face and body.

The intensity of the fight reached its peak in the final rounds, as Usyk dominated his game and punished Fury with a powerful punch in the eleventh round. The match ended in a violent exchange of blows in the twelfth round, which made the judges realize who was the best in the ring.

While Usyk celebrated by raising a historic sword symbolizing Ukrainian national spirit, Fury avoided answering questions about his next steps in boxing. Having announced his retirement in 2022, this second straight defeat raises uncertainty about his future in the sport.

For his part, Usyk continues to focus on his legacy and said he is ready to accept new challenges, although he left the door open to a possible trilogy against Fury.

Not only was this fight a pivotal chapter in boxing history, it also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in hosting global sporting events. With a total prize pool of an estimated $190 million, this fight was one of the most lucrative nights in the history of the sport.

Time will tell if Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will ever meet again in the ring, but what is certain is that this rivalry left an indelible mark on the world of boxing.