Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury Clash for Fight of The Year Candidate!

Another Riyadh Season card has come and gone. Boxing fans are satisfied with another great fight in the main event to cap off the year. Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury clashed for the second time just four days shy of Christmas in Saudi Arabia. In their initial encounter in May 2024, Usyk handed Fury his first professional defeat, becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion. The rematch was highly anticipated, with Fury aiming for redemption and Usyk striving to solidify his dominance.

The card featured UK standouts such as Johnny Fisher, Peter McGrail, and young rising heavyweight contender Moses Itauma. The first fight was filled with controversy from the Fury camp, and the results of the second fight are no different. Tyson Fury stood firm in his claim that he believed Usyk won the first fight due to favoritism surrounding his home country of Ukraine.

Usyk was visibly disappointed in Fury's refusal to own up to the loss but did not allow his wild accusations to affect his performance. In the lead-up to the fight, Usyk made it known that he would not leave Fury alone, in a series of hilarious Instagram videos. Usyk was true to his word, opening the 12-round heavyweight championship contest by applying pressure with crisp jabs and crosses to the body. However, Fury immediately countered Usyk's game plan by launching jabs of his own in an effort to keep Usyk in range. Fury came in heavier for this fight than he did in their initial confrontation, weighing in officially at 281 lbs on the night. He used his weight to his advantage, clinching Usyk each time he was able to close the distance against him.

Several times, Usyk found himself on the receiving end of clinch engagement, allowing Fury to burn time in the round. It took Usyk several attempts to reject the clinch until he eventually realized the key was the southpaw straight. Usyk's left hand was a key feature of his offense, in a similar fashion to the game plan he used in their first fight. Fury had trouble with this punch across all 12 rounds, finding himself on the back foot several times even though he was rallying behind right hooks to the body. Fury believed he could gas Usyk out to the body by repeatedly jabbing high to get Usyk's guard up, then demolishing his liver with hooks downstairs.

The faith he exhibited his his body shots was clear, and several times throughout the contest it appeared to visibly hurt Usyk. However, the Ukrainian did not falter. After eating many hooks to the body with clear reactions, Usyk gained a second wind, to the surprise of the crowd and the commentators. Usyk gave the fans a treat, trading in his singular southpaw straights for heavy pressure behind combination punches. He overwhelmed Fury, forcing him to retreat along the ropes as he did in their first fight. Although he was unable to rock Fury, forcing him to back up was enough for the judges. According to the scorecards, Usyk controlled the championship rounds, winning 10-9 in the opinion of all three judges. There were a few scattered right hands that Fury landed, but it wasn't enough to earn him favor in the end. The scorecards at the conclusion of the WBC, WBO, IBO, WBA World Heavyweight Championship contest read 116-112, 116-112, and 115-114.

The two 116-112 cards were controversial, with many believing the fight was far more competitive. Many fans from the UK were outraged with the result, many of them voicing their opinions on Matchroom's official Instagram page. Fury was visibly upset by the scorecards. He erupted during his post-fight press conference, letting it be known that he was dissatisfied with the way the judges scored the contest. "I was quite confident. I thought I won that fight again ... I thought I've won both fights. But then again, I've gone home with two losses on my record now, so there's not much I can do about it," Fury told a news conference. UK reporters made it known that they believed Fury won, playing up to his intense feelings on the matter. Queensberry Promotions CEO Frank Warren was also seen scowling at the scorecards, at one point holding the card for himself.

Warren was in complete disbelief, claiming the judges made a massive error in judgment. Suffering back-to-back losses raises questions about Fury's future in boxing. His next steps could involve a potential third fight with Usyk or other contenders, but his path forward is uncertain. Usyk's dominance may influence the strategies and preparations of other heavyweight contenders, potentially leading to new matchups and rivalries as fighters aim to dethrone the reigning champion. After this loss to Usyk, Fury's future in the sport is without a doubt in question. Fury entered the series against Usyk as one of the most dominant heavyweights of his era. However, back-to-back losses to Usyk tarnish his invincible aura and raise questions about his place among the all-time greats. While he remains a two-time world champion with historic wins over Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder, these defeats could affect how future generations view his legacy.

There is a lot of speculation about Fury's potential retirement. Fury has often teased retirement in the past, even after major victories. Following two losses, the prospect of him stepping away for good seems more plausible. The physical and mental toll of consecutive defeats may prompt him to consider ending his career rather than attempting a comeback. If Fury decides to continue, he could pursue a redemption arc. A potential trilogy with Usyk, though challenging, offers a chance to reclaim his position. Alternatively, bouts against other top heavyweights like Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder (a fourth fight), or emerging stars like Jared Anderson could restore his reputation. For Usyk, making the world heavyweight championship whole again against Daniel Dubois would be beneficial. However, Dubois has a big problem ahead of him in Joseph Parker.

Should Dubois defeat Parker and retain the IBF Heavyweight World Championship, he would easily line himself up for a rematch superfight with Usyk. Dubois gave himself extra media attention by jumping into the ring while Usyk was giving his post-match speech. Some viewed it as disrespect, but others saw it as Dubois making it known he would give Usyk a better fight than their first. Dubois and Parker will clash on February 22nd in Saudi Arabia, chief support to the rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dimitry Bivol.