Tyson Fury’s mission to avenge his only professional defeat ended in crushing disappointment as he lost on a unanimous points decision to unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh.
Another classic encounter between the well-matched rivals ended with Usyk retaining his WBC, WBA and WBO belts by finishing 116-112 ahead on all three judges’ scorecards, with an upset Fury storming out of the ring.
It was a fair reflection of the Ukrainian’s control of the rematch given he set the pace for most of the 12 rounds and was the harder worker, landing more frequently and with greater impact.
But that was not the view of Fury, who labelled the result an “early Christmas gift” from the judges to Usyk, or his promoter Frank Warren, who described the decision as “nuts”, “crazy” and “a nonsense”.
Usyk’s performance confirmed his status as an all-time great and the 37-year-old will now look to become undisputed champion for the second time by toppling IBF champion Daniel Dubois. Relive the fight with round-by-round updates below, plus all the reaction from the Kingdom Arena:
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and latest updates LIVE
-
Oleksandr Usyk beats Tyson Fury by unanimous decision with all three judges scoring fight 116-112
-
REPORT: Oleksandr Usyk outpoints Tyson Fury again to retain titles and end rivalry
-
STEVE BUNCE: Usyk vs Fury was a masterclass but it revealed one harsh boxing truth for both men
-
Anthony Joshua’s scorecard: ‘AJ’ hands Ukrainian razor-thin decision
-
Official scorecards: Two judges give Fury only one round from rounds 6-12
-
Fury reacts to loss to Usyk: ‘I’m not going to cry’
Usyk vs Fury was a masterclass but it revealed one harsh boxing truth for both men
14:01 , Luke Baker
Oleksandr Usyk is the king of the modern heavyweights and has left in his slipstream the ruins of every giant boxer he has faced in the ring.
On Saturday night in Riyadh, Usyk fought to a standstill once again in a gruelling clash with Tyson Fury. It was their rematch and it was personal and brilliant.
At the end of 12 rounds, Usyk won an oddly wide unanimous decision to retain his championship belts and his crown as the king of the heavyweights. The three identical scores of 116-112, which meant Usyk won eight and Fury just four of the completed rounds, was harsh on Fury, but the right man had his hands raised.
Read Steve Bunce’s full analysis from Riyadh:
Usyk vs Fury was a masterclass but it revealed one harsh boxing truth for both men
Daniel Dubois interrupts Oleksandr Usyk celebration to demand ‘revenge’
12:15 , Luke Baker
Daniel Dubois stormed the ring to interrupt Oleksandr Usyk’s celebrations after his latest win over Tyson Fury and demanded “revenge” in the form a unification bout with the Ukrainian.
Usyk retained his WBC, WBA and WBO heavyweight world championship belts by finishing 116-112 ahead on all three judges’ scorecards in Riyadh to claim a unanimous decision victory over an angry Fury – who abruptly left the ring and called the decision an “early Christmas gift” from the judges to Usyk.
As the Ukrainian superstar celebrated his hard-fought triumph, IBF champion Dubois decided that was the moment to climb into the ring and confront the champion, demanding a rematch with him.
Daniel Dubois interrupts Oleksandr Usyk celebration to demand ‘revenge’
Angry Tyson Fury says Oleksandr Usyk’s controversial win was ‘Christmas gift’ from judges
11:10 , Luke Baker
Tyson Fury insisted Oleksandr Usyk had been gifted an early Christmas present after disputing the Ukrainian’s unanimous points victory in their rematch in Riyadh.
Fury lost 116-112 on all three judges’ scorecards as his bid to avenge his only career loss ended conclusively with the extraordinary Usyk retaining his WBA, WBC and WBO titles.
Promoter Frank Warren said he was “dumbfounded” by both the result and the wide margin of victory – and Fury agreed.
“I felt a little Christmas spirit in there and I think he got a little Christmas gift from them judges. An early Christmas gift,” said Fury, who lost the first fight in May by split decision.
Angry Fury says Usyk’s controversial win was ‘Christmas gift’ from judges
Frank Warren rages at judges for Usyk v Fury result: ‘It’s crazy. It’s a nonsense’
10:09 , Luke Baker
Tyson Fury’s unanimous points defeat to unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh was branded “nuts” by promoter Frank Warren.
Fury lost 116-112 on all three judges’ scorecards as his bid to avenge his only career loss ended conclusively with the extraordinary Usyk retaining his WBA, WBC and WBO belts.
The 36-year-old from Morecambe left the ring after the decision was read out, leaving Warren to protest over the outcome.
“I’m dumbfounded, they gave him four rounds out of the 12 rounds, it’s impossible, one judge didn’t give him any round from round six onwards,” the Queensbury Promotions boss told DAZN.
“Only four rounds. Each of them gave him four rounds, four different rounds. How can that be? It’s impossible. It’s crazy. It’s a nonsense. What fight were they watching?”
Frank Warren rages at judges for Usyk v Fury result: ‘It’s crazy. It’s a nonsense’
REPORT: Oleksandr Usyk outpoints Tyson Fury again to retain titles and end rivalry
09:20 , Luke Baker
Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury on points on Saturday to do the double over the Briton, retaining the unified heavyweight titles in the process.
Usyk had beaten Fury on points in May, becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 24 years. That result in Riyadh kept the Ukrainian unbeaten, while Fury tasted defeat for the first time as a professional.
And on Saturday, in the same Saudi city, Usyk repeated the result, outpointing Fury again to retain the unified titles. This time it was clearer, too, with Usyk a 116-112 winner on all three scorecards, after he won via split decision in May.
While Usyk’s first victory secured him undisputed status at heavyweight – after he previously reigned as undisputed cruiserweight king – the southpaw vacated the IBF title in June. As such, only the WBC, WBO and WBA belts were up for grabs in Saturday’s rematch.
Usyk outpoints Tyson Fury again to retain heavyweight titles and end rivalry
Fury vs Usyk 2 official scorecards: Did the judges get it right?
08:30 , Jack Rathborn
Oleksandr Usyk emerged victorious over Tyson Fury again on Saturday, winning on points – just as he did in their first fight.
Except this time, it was a clearer win for Usyk, according to the judges. While the Ukrainian was a split-decision winner in May, this time he won by unanimous decision.
In his first fight with Fury, Usyk secured scorecards of 115-112 and 114-113, while the other judge favoured the Briton 114-113. With that, Usyk became the undisputed heavyweight champion in Riyadh.
Fury vs Usyk 2 official scorecards: Did the judges get it right?
Eddie Hearn intends to make Johnny Fisher v Dave Allen rematch
08:00 , Jack Rathborn
Eddie Hearn tells IFL TV: “I think that the best I could hope for in the ring was a draw. Johnny Fisher won the first four rounds and the 12th.
“If you give Dave Allen every other round and the knockdown, he wins by a point. I’m not sure. My true reaction was we could lose by a point or a draw. I thought he was lucky.
“We suffered from inexperience and a lack of rounds. I thought Dave was fantastic. I want to make the rematch. Big fight, crowd and in London. Johnny is in hospital and had to get his ear drained. I thought he was lucky to get the win but I couldn’t split them.”
Anthony Joshua reveals round-by-round scorecard for Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury 2
07:30 , Jack Rathborn
Anthony Joshua believes Tyson Fury was one round away from a draw or even claiming revenge against Oleksandr Usyk in the pair’s heavyweight world title rematch in Riyadh.
Another classic fight unfolded between the rivals, with the Ukrainian retaining the WBC, WBA and WBO belts after all three judges scored the fight in his favour 116-112.
But Joshua saw a much closer fight than judges Gerardo Martinez, Patrick Morley and Ignacio Robles, following late drama to decide the third official.
Anthony Joshua reveals round-by-round scorecard for Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury 2
Tyson Fury reacts to defeat against Oleksandr Usyk
07:00 , Jack Rathborn
“I felt I won both fights, I knew what I had to do, knock him out to get a decision, there’s no doubt in my mind that I won the fight,” Fury said.
“What’s next for me? I’m going home and having some time off.
“On the record, there’s no difference, two losses. It’s been a good experience, good training.
“I felt good in there, good pace on the front foot.”
Tyson Fury rages at judges after losing unanimous decision to Oleksandr Usyk
06:00 , Jack Rathborn
Tyson Fury stormed back to his changing room after the fight, incredulous that he dropped another decision to Oleksandr Usyk.
Frank Warren rages at judges for Usyk v Fury 2: ‘It’s crazy. It’s a nonsense’
05:00 , Jack Rathborn
“I’m dumbfounded, they gave him four rounds out of the 12 rounds, it’s impossible, one judge didn’t give him any round from round six onwards,” Frank Warren says.
“How can that be? It’s impossible. It’s crazy. It’s a nonsense.
“Everybody along the front had him winning, Oscar De La Hoya had him winning by three rounds.
“He only won one round on two of the judges’ scorecards from round six onwards.
“What fight were they watching?
“How can Tyson only have won four rounds in this fight? Four rounds, all different rounds, yes [I thought he won the fight]. I don’t know [what he wants to do next], he’s very disappointed.
“It’s up to him [if he fights again], it’s too early, it’s nuts. I don’t get it. We’ll see what happens. I thought he was in control of the fight and had Usyk on his back foot for most of the fight. It is what it is.”
Carl Frampton lauds Oleksandr Usyk after defeating Tyson Fury
04:00 , Jack Rathborn
“If you look at his resume, what he did at cruiserweight, then he moved up to heavyweight, all away from home, in hostile territory,” Carl Frampton says.
“The guy is an absolute great, not just this generation. He’s a great, that’s it.”
Lennox Lewis reacts to Usyk’s win over Fury
03:00 , Jack Rathborn
“It was a good fight, I’d have liked Tyson to be more aggressive and go after Usyk more,” Lennox Lewis said.
“He won the first fight, so it was up to Tyson to go after him and win it. In terms of the winner, the scoring was correct.
“He will feel he won the fight, I thought he could’ve done more work, Usyk hit him to the body a few times, free shots, they were scoring shots.
“He could retire, he can do whatever he wants. I don’t know if there will be a rematch [with Dubois].
“He goes to London in the biggest fight in history, maybe Anthony Joshua.”
Usyk v Fury 2
02:30 , Jack Rathborn
Hearn warns Daniel Dubois after calling out Usyk before his fight with Joseph Parker: “Don’t count your chickens.
“He [Parker] is in the shape of his life and extremely confident, I guess it’s to pick up the spare belt that he let go. Opetaia brings speed and youth, I think that’s the fight to make.”
Tyson Fury abruptly leaves ring to avoid interview after losing to Usyk again
02:00 , Jack Rathborn
Tyson Fury was quick to leave the ring after his loss to Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday, avoiding a post-fight interview.
Fury suffered a decision loss to Usyk for the second time this year, and their rematch was in fact more decisive than their first meeting; Usyk won 116-112 on all three scorecards on Saturday, after beating the Briton by split decision in May.
Both fights took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the first clash crowning Usyk as the undisputed heavyweight champion. The Ukrainian, a former undisputed cruiserweight king, then gave up the IBF belt in June, meaning only the WBC, WBO and WBA titles were available on Saturday.
And Usyk will leave Saudi Arabia with those belts still in his possession, as well as his unbeaten record.
Meanwhile, Fury was quick to leave the ring after his unanimous-decision loss, which marked the second defeat of his professional career.
Tyson Fury abruptly leaves ring to avoid interview after losing to Usyk again
Usyk v Fury 2 fight stats
01:30 , Jack Rathborn
The stats show why Usyk was declared the winner, having landed 35 more shots over the 12 rounds.
Usyk landed 179 punches, Fury only landed 144, though the Briton did throw 509 shots, compared to the champion’s 423.
But Usyk’s efficiency was crucial, landing at a 42 percent ratio, with Fury down at 28 percent.
Usyk v Fury 2: Eddie Hearn urges ‘Gypsy King’ to face Anthony Joshua
01:00 , Jack Rathborn
Eddie Hearn: “The reality is, there’s only one fight for Fury: Anthony Joshua. It’s the biggest fight in the history of British boxing.
“It wasn’t a flat performance, it didn’t look like his punch resistance was in question. He might be in the peak of his powers, just not good enough to beat Usyk.
“One at Wembley, then back out for Riyadh Season.”
Tyson Fury reacts to loss to Oleksandr Usyk
00:45 , Jack Rathborn
“I was quite confident, I thought I won that fight again, both fights, but then again I’ve gone home with two losses on my record, not much I can do about it, I’ll believe until the day I die I won the fight,” Fury said.
“I was on the front foot all night, sometimes it’s hard to score. I feel a lot of people scored it 7-5, Frank had me three or four rounds up, I’m not going to cry.
“I’ll always feel a little bit hard done by, not a little bit, a lot, when you don’t get a knockout, you can’t guarantee a win.”
Usyk v Fury 2 official scorecards
00:30 , Jack Rathborn
Here are the official scorecards:
Who could Usyk fight next?
00:15 , Jack Rathborn
Daniel Dubois stormed the ring with a strange and perplexing call-out for Usyk.
He was competitive against Usyk in their first fight before being knocked out and now he’s much better and, of course, holds the IBF belt that Usyk tossed away in order to face Fury once again.
Could Jai Opetaia be a future opponent for Usyk? Hearn seems to think so, not quite yet though, surely?
Joseph Parker, of course, will also hope to factor into the conversation, if he beats Dubois, he could be next.
REPORT: Oleksandr Usyk outpoints Tyson Fury again to retain titles and end rivalry
00:15 , Jack Rathborn
Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury on points on Saturday to do the double over the Briton, retaining the unified heavyweight titles in the process.
Usyk had beaten Fury on points in May, becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 24 years. That result in Riyadh kept the Ukrainian unbeaten, while Fury tasted defeat for the first time as a professional.
And on Saturday, in the same Saudi city, Usyk repeated the result, outpointing Fury again to retain the unified titles. This time it was clearer, too, with Usyk a 116-112 winner on all three scorecards, after he won via split decision in May.
While Usyk’s first victory secured him undisputed status at heavyweight – after he previously reigned as undisputed cruiserweight king – the southpaw vacated the IBF title in June. As such, only the WBC, WBO and WBA belts were up for grabs in Saturday’s rematch.
Usyk outpoints Tyson Fury again to retain heavyweight titles and end rivalry
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 23:49 , Jack Rathborn
Usyk v Fury 2 reaction
Saturday 21 December 2024 23:46 , Jack Rathborn
“I had it very close, I couldn’t split it,” Eddie Hearn says. “All three judges had it the same way. I had it a draw, one round, I thought it was close. We’ll watch it back, but I found it difficult to pick a winner.”
Sergio Mora: “Fury made adjustments, he hit the body, he was going for uppercuts. Usyk took it right back though, it was a close fight, but there was a clear winner.”
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 23:36 , Jack Rathborn
Daniel Dubois is in the ring! He barks at Usyk, demanding a rematch!
He says: “I want my revenge, for a robbery last time, where’s Frank [Warren]? Let’s make it happen.”
Usyk will gladly oblige: “Turki, make this fight!”
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 23:34 , Jack Rathborn
Usyk: “I win, thank god.
“Maybe I’m training, good preparation, my wife helped me. My sons won a competition today too, in judo, my sons won a judo belt, orange and green, my son talked to me, ‘papa, you next!’ I said, ‘OK, I try.’”
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 23:31 , Jack Rathborn
All three judges score the fight 116-112 to your winner and… STILL! The champion retains his heavyweight world titles.
Usyk does enough, Fury wheels away in disappointment, no rage there, perhaps acceptance, it was wider this time.
Usyk v Fury 2: Anthony Joshua’s scorecard
Saturday 21 December 2024 23:30 , Jack Rathborn
-
R1: Fury
-
R2: Fury
-
R3: Usyk
-
R4: Usyk
-
R5: Fury
-
R6: Usyk
-
R7: Usyk
-
R8: Usyk
-
R9: Fury
-
R10: Fury
-
R11: Usyk
-
R12: Even
Usyk 115-114 Fury
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 23:25 , Jack Rathborn
Round 12
Fury almost slapping the right jab with a backhand, Fury then clubbing the right uppercut there.
Swiping shots, it’s aggressive, two minutes left… Joshua has it 105-104 to Usyk.
Fury with a good one-two… He’s got to go for it now.
Fury is tagged twice on the ropes, he roars and comes back, this one is closer, but Fury needs more!
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 23:21 , Jack Rathborn
Round 11
Six minutes, will Fury change something and take a risk? Darren Barker says Team Fury look nervous ringside. Barry Jones has flipped and believes Usyk is ahead, Sergio Mora says the champ is “comfortably ahead”. But Joshua has it level, he gave the 10th to Fury.
Fury clings on then leaves a gap down low for Usyk to deliver four body shots. Lovely work.
That’s a big left! Huge shot! Fury took it well though, but Usyk bringing out the big shots late here.
Fury pushed back and now throwing much in return. But Fury does bring a right uppercut on the bell as he peels away from the ropes. One more round… “Your moment is now,” says SugarHill. Spencer Brown, Fury’s manager tells DAZN he thinks it’s even.
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 23:17 , Jack Rathborn
Round 10
Usyk with a cut to his left eye, Fury then rams a right down the middle, aggressive start to the round. He grabs Usyk and is forced to separate, a mostly clean fight in fairness.
Joshua gave Fury the last round, that closes it up to a 5-4 lead to Usyk on his card.
Thudding shot from Fury, but as he leans in another big left from Usyk. Both men grappling towards the end of the 10th, really going for it as a gap briefly opens up. Then BANG! Clean left and Fury held on, he took it well.
Another body shot ripples Fury’s mid-section, Fury with the gamesmanship, throwing his head from side to side. But another Usyk round, you would think, now down a couple for Indy Sport.
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 23:14 , Jack Rathborn
Round 9
Good body shot from Fury! And another one, two in fact, left and then a right, but Usyk returned the favour with a left hook.
Usyk jabbing low to the body. AJ has Usyk two points up through eight.
Clean jab from Usyk, then a great combination, Fury’s gut ripples and then he takes one more up top too.
Usyk brushes the gut once more, another left, this is a punishing pace for Fury to cope with.
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 23:10 , Jack Rathborn
Round 8
The fight is in the balance here, Fury with a clubbing left hook, Usyk scurries away.
But then the champion launches in with a pair of hooks that brush Fury’s head. It’s another good Usyk round as he storms into range at the end there, real purpose to his work tonight and not merely content to dance and pinch the rounds.
Oscar De La Hoya urging Fury to keep busy. Joshua has Usyk up following the seventh…
Usyk has landed 11 more punches now and thrown five less…
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 23:04 , Jack Rathborn
Round 7
Usyk just outlanding Fury for now, 37-25, with connection rate 72 percent to Fury’s 62 percent. Barry Jones still has this for Fury…
Usyk’s upperbody movement is a problem, Fury pokes out the jab, he then takes another heavy left. Usyk has flipped this fight in the last four minutes after Fury’s own mini wave of momentum.
Fury feeling the pace, sucks in some air, back in southpaw, he clings on after Usyk lunges in and lands again.
After six rounds, Joshua had this even, his card in full:
-
R1: Fury
-
R2: Fury
-
R3: Usyk
-
R4: Usyk
-
R5: Fury
-
R6: Usyk
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 23:00 , Jack Rathborn
Round 6
Can Usyk change it here? This gameplan is effective from Fury: Take the middle of the ring, walk Usyk down and tag him to the body.
Joshua has Fury up 48-47 now… A great one-two from Fury, fast and accurate hands, but Usyk is back in front and showing angles to keep Fury on his toes.
Another clean shot to Fury’s body, the combinations coming out now, a left lands upstairs, it’s majestic boxing.
OH! Usyk with a heavy shot, to Fury’s head, he dabs at the left eye… That hurt him. Tagging him for fun in the final 30 seconds.
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 22:57 , Jack Rathborn
Round 5
Fury’s round again, for Joshua, 38-38… Interesting.
Fury with a big shot, Usyk holds on, that shook him a little, now Fury leans on the champ, hoping to impose that size advantage. Usyk now dabbing at his nose.
Centre of the ring, still, Fury is growing in confidence, down low to the body, attritional damage. Fury doing a lot of work in there, but another right to the body, Usyk responds, a grin from the champ as he absorbs one in return. Fury in the ascendency!
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 22:52 , Jack Rathborn
Round 4
Was the third Fury’s round? Perhaps. These are close, Barry Jones believes Fury is winning the fight, so a different view. But Usyk has outlanded Fury 29-23 with a higher connection rate 40 percent to 23 percent. Those numbers reflect what Joshua has seen. AJ gives the third to Fury, 29-28 to Usyk on his card.
Fury taking the centre of the ring… But BANG! Big left hand from Usyk, a huge shot, Usyk rewarded for that activity and intent.
Usyk ducks under and out of range, but Fury times a right, then the body…
What a round! Usyk’s round, you might think, based off that big left.
“It could go either way,” Dubois says at ringside. “I don’t know [if Fury needs to attack the body], let the best man win. It’s just a good fight. Of course, I’m here for that [facing the winner].”
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 22:48 , Jack Rathborn
Round 3
A shot to the back of the head lands on Usyk, he has a grumble… Fury rolling out of trouble, leading with that left shoulder as a shell.
It’s 2-0 to Usyk, according to ‘AJ’, fascinating insight from a man who shared 24 rounds with the Ukrainian remember.
Good work from Fury with the jab, a classy match this. Usyk bounces one to the top of Fury’s head. A jab to the body lands for Fury, that’s better. Fury back in a southpaw stance, blood to the nose of Usyk, is he turning the screw a little? That was closer.
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 22:45 , Jack Rathborn
Round 2
Anthony Joshua is scoring this fight live for DAZN, he gives the first to Usyk.
The champ looks phenomenal, the left is like a piston, Fury unable to throw with real intent now.
Fury has the range-finder with the left, then attempts to bring down the right, but he can’t time him. Usyk is like a wasp, in and out of range, but lingering longer than usual, real intent.
BANG! Fury with a big right, the most meaningful shot of the fight so far you’d suggest, but Usyk’s round once again.
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 22:39 , Jack Rathborn
Round 1
We’re underway, Fury’s eyes widen, Usyk doesn’t blink, despite some late trash talk.
Remember, the line on Fury’s shorts, it’s high, could that be a tactic to avoid his body being peppered by the champion?
Fury in orthodox stance, he’s aggressive, as we thought. Usyk conceding the centre of the ring, both men jabbing furiously.
Fury is MASSIVE in there, huge bulk around his mid-section, but plenty of movement upstairs, the fists fluttering in front of Usyk, who is targeting the body with straight shots.
Usyk got in!! Oh, one-two and he got into range, Fury attempted to chop down. That looping left hook from Usyk is dangerous, the speed!
A left hand gets through again, just after a high guard lured Fury into a commitment, a slight twitch, this is chess inside that ring. High level stuff and a tight round.
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 22:38 , Jack Rathborn
Fury is shadowboxing in his corner with intent, grunting as he pumps his gloves up.
Usyk rolling his right elbow and wrist, then his left… Limbering up.
The belts are proudly displayed behind him with his team.
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 22:37 , Jack Rathborn
Here we go, Michael Buffer rattles off a dozen sponsors, then does what he does best and announces two of the most iconic fighters of a generation.
Not only did we get undisputed, but the two best heavyweight fighters in the world have met twice in one year.
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 22:32 , Jack Rathborn
First the national anthem for Saudi Arabia, now the United Kingdom… Ukraine is next and then we’ll get this rematch underway…
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 22:24 , Jack Rathborn
Mariah Carey’s ‘All I want for Christmas’ rings around the Kingdom Arena, here’s Tyson Fury… He’s singing along, too.
The Briton looks calm, arms out wide, a wink too, as he belts out the lyrics to the song.
Now we move to The Notorious B.I.G. and ‘Hypnotize’, Fury known to love his hip hop… He’s bouncing, the red and white robe.
Will Father Christmas deliver the present he covets most tonight? Those unified heavyweight world titles.
Usyk v Fury 2
Saturday 21 December 2024 22:19 , Jack Rathborn
A riveting performance of the Rocky theme tune, Eye of the Tiger by Survivor, on the drums there… It’s time!
We’ve seen the stars come out tonight, Ronnie O’Sullivan, the only other heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois, Roberto Duran, Wladimir Klitschko, Francis Ngannou, Jason Statham and more…
Usyk v Fury 2: Teen sensation Moses Itauma and Demsey McKean meet at heavyweight
Saturday 21 December 2024 21:52 , Alex Pattle
One more fight before the main event! British 19-year-old Moses Itauma looks to stay unbeaten, as he faces Australia’s Demsey McKean, 34.
McKean emerges first, to a remix of Men At Work’s “Down Under” – the people’s unofficial Australian anthem.
Now here comes Itauma, to the sound of “O Fortuna” and then Bob Marley’s “Jamming”.
Itauma is a heavy favourite, despite McKean’s experience. The latter will take confidence from Dave Allen’s showing against Johnny Fisher earlier, though, when the older boxer dropped the younger man and almost won on points.
Round 1
McKean stands southpaw, so does Itauma. Itauma weighed in heavier than expected yesterday, especially given his speed and movement are his finest attributes.
Early on, Itauma is darting in, jabbing to the body, and darting out.
OH! A clean overhand left, and down goes McKean! We haven’t even reached the 90-second mark!
McKean is back up, but he’s soon forced to wrestle, and he drops to his knees in the process. He’s back up, and he and Itauma separate.
OH!!!!! Itauma puts McKean down again, a brutal knockdown with a cross this time! And McKean’s team step in to ensure the fight does not continue.
McKean was spun around, his leg was bent under his body, he was lolloping about. Scary. The right call by his corner.
Usyk v Fury 2: Serhii Bohachuk takes on Ishmael Davis in super-welterweight clash
Saturday 21 December 2024 21:21 , Alex Pattle
Round 5
A fairly comfortable round for Bohachuk. Has Davis’s best work come and gone already?
Round 6
Davis is still showing spirit, for sure, but it’s all Bohachuk right now. The Ukrainian is constantly bearing down on Davis, whose nose is leaking blood onto his white shorts.
Into the final minute of the round, and Bohachuk is letting his hands go and really causing Davis issues with the variety of punches. Davis holds onto Bohachuk to reduce the damage.
OH! Davis’s corner throws in the towel after the round! That’s fair corner work. Davis didn’t need to keep taking damage, especially after stepping in on short notice.
