‘Judges got it wrong’: Fury anger after Usyk wins on points to retain heavyweight crowns

British heavyweight Tyson Fury said the judges made a mistake in awarding a unanimous decision win to Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine in their clash for the WBA (Super), WBO and WBC titles at the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia, claiming he should have won.

Fury fell on Sunday to the second defeat of his professional career, both of which have come against Usyk, as he missed the chance to win the belts despite a much better performance in a rematch of their May bout, which he lost by split decision.

“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 press conference.

“I can just fight my heart out and do the best I can, but again, I’ll always believe until a day I die, I won that fight.”

Fury said he had been on the front foot all night, but in truth Usyk, who gave up big advantages in terms of height, weight and reach, was the more dominant fighter for the majority of the contest as he scored another decision win.

“It is what it is. I’m not going to cry over spilled milk, it’s happened now. I know boxing, I’ve been in it all my life. You can’t change no decisions, but I’ll just always feel a little bit hard done-by. Not a little bit actually - a lot,” Fury said.

Giving up advantages in height, weight and reach to his much bigger opponent, Usyk fought superbly throughout to win 116-112 on all three judges’ scorecards as he again defeated Fury after his success in May made him the undisputed champion.

Oleksandr Usyk punches Tyson Fury.Credit: Getty Images

Fury, 36, was much-improved from that first encounter where he wilted in the ninth round but could still not solve the puzzle posed by the 37-year-old Usyk, whose superb movement saw him force the Briton onto the back foot for much of the bout.

Tipping the scales at a career-high 281 pounds (127kg), 55 pounds (25kg) heavier than Usyk, Fury started at a high tempo and tried to control the centre of the ring using his jab, but the Ukrainian matched him and tried back his opponent up by ducking inside and unleashing combinations.

By the fourth round Usyk started to find the range for his left hand, but Fury adjusted and went hard to the body in the fifth as the fight ebbed and flowed.

Fury appeared to be stung late in the sixth with a right hand to the body followed by a sharp left that struck him on the forehead, and by the seventh he slowed, moving to southpaw late in the round as he struggled with fatigue.

Tyson Fury lands a left on Oleksandr Usyk.Credit: Getty Images

Fury’s reliance on hard shots in ones and twos to the body did little to stop Usyk from marching forward, usually finishing his flurries with his fearsome left hand.

A good start to the 10th by Fury did not last and Usyk was soon back controlling the angles, finishing the frame at a furious pace and coasting through the final two rounds take a convincing victory.

Asked in his post-fight interview in the ring if he thought the scorecards were correct, Usyk shrugged.

“I win, it’s good ... I’m not the judges, I’m a sportsman, I’m an athlete,” Usyk said, before praising his sons who he said had been involved in judo competitions earlier on Saturday.

Australia’s Demsey McKean is knocked out by Moses Itauma.Credit: Getty Images

Usyk was called out in the ring by Britain’s Daniel Dubois, who he beat with a ninth-round stoppage in controversial circumstances in August 2023 after a fifth-round knockdown of Usyk was ruled to have been a low blow.

Disappointed by the second loss of his professional career, the usually talkative Fury left the ring without speaking.

In an earlier heavyweight bout, Australian Demsey McKean was knocked out in the first round by British fighter Moses Itauma. The 19-year-old rising star put McKean on the canvas early and though the Australian got back to his feet, he was stopped again soon after.

McKean entered Sunday’s fight with a 22-1 record while Itauma improved to 11-0 with the win.