Tyson Fury suffers heartbreaking Oleksandr Usyk defeat in rematch with career hanging in balance
OLEKSANDR USYK cemented his status as a generational great with a second straight points victory over Tyson Fury.
Seven months after becoming the undisputed king of the heavyweights, Usyk looked to end his rivalry with the Brit once and for all in a lucrative Saudi showdown.
Tyson Fury renewed his rivalry with Oleksandr Usyk in a second successive Saudi showdown[/caption]
The Gypsy King suffered a split decision defeat in their first meeting in May[/caption]
Fury, 36, was hellbent on exacting revenge on the slick southpaw in their second Riyadh rumble[/caption]
But he suffered a second straight agonising defeat to the slick southpaw[/caption]
Gypsy King Fury went into the second successive Riyadh rematch hellbent on doing a desert-demolition job on the undefeated Ukrainian, who edged their undisputed straightener in May via split decision.
But he found himself once again bamboozled by arguably the slickest operator the division has ever seen, suffering a points loss courtesy of 116-112 scorecards.
Usyk has now essentially CLEARED OUT the division a mere SIX fights after moving up from cruiserweight.
A successful revenge job on the southpaw would’ve seen Fury further etch his name into the history books.
The win would’ve seen him join generational greats Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, Vitali Klitschko and Michael Moorer as the only men to hold a heavyweight title three times.
Fury immediately took the centre of the ring and looked to go down to the body early doors.
Usyk was light on his feet, as he always is, and looked to dance his way into range.
Usyk landed a good left hand midway through the round but Fury returned fire with a slick counter right.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
Usyk looked to utilise his peek-a-boo stance to find a home for his wand of a left hand to the body and head shortly after the first restart.
Usyk looked hesitant to close the distance and work on the inside, perhaps as he remembered the punishing force of the uppercuts Fury landed in their first meeting.
The jab continued to be Fury’s weapon of choice in the third as he tried to keep the Ukrainian at bay.
But Usyk eventually found his range and soon couldn’t miss shots to the body.
Fury continued to hold his ground in the fourth, something he didn’t do seven months ago.
The crowd were soon gasping as Usyk landed that wand of a left hand flush on the chin of Fury, who took it well and returned the favour with his right a few moments later.
A lead left uppercut from Fury early in the fifth drew a massive reaction from the crowd.
Usyk shrugged it off but he clearly felt the force of the shot.
Closing the distance was once again an issue for Usyk in the sixth as Fury kept him at bay with a piston-like jab and feints.
But he stole the round with two huge left hands that shook Fury to his boots.
Fury got his wits about him quickly after the start and handed the best shot of the seventh – a straight right – midway through the stanza.
But Usyk soon found a home for yet another rasping left that drew a big reaction from the crowd.
Usyk looked to gamble in the eighth and found himself open to counters.
And Fury took the opportunity early in the round with a beautiful counter uppercut.
Usyk continued to put the pressure on in the ninth but Fury looked to frustrate the champion with clinches and body shots.
Fury had his head snapped back by a beautiful straight left a minute into the stanza but took the shot well.
Usyk walked through a low blow moments before the bell as he continued to march down the challenger.
Fury started round ten fast and looked to mix in uppercuts and body soys with clinches.
Usyk, however, peppered the Fury with shots when they were at range but the Brit took them well.
Fury once again looked to find a punishing uppercut as Usyk closed the distance in the eleventh.
Usyk landed a hellacious straight left in the final minute of the stanza that wobbled Fury to his core.
But the Wythenshawe warrior kept his wits about him and managed to land a stiff right hand that wobbled Usyk just before the bell.
Fury put his foot on the gas after the final restart but soon found himself peppered by a beautiful three-piece combo from the champion.
His hands gradually got lower and lower as the round went on and Usyk lapped up the opportunities to pepper his chin.
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
