The Enchantment and Aspirations of the Trilogy Found Their End at the Hands of a Distinguished Professor of Fine Arts from Ukraine
Usyk’s impressive preparation: He secured victory in all six of the final rounds according to every judge, Photo: REUTERS
No suspense here; the trilogy will not happen! Undoubtedly, Ukrainian Alexander Usyk stands as the premier heavyweight of the decade, competing with British fighters Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and American Deontay Wilder.
The boxing community was left in awe as the 37-year-old Usyk, despite being 25 kilograms lighter and possessing a 19-centimeter shorter reach, once again outperformed the 127-kilogram British giant, Fury.
Usyk achieved a unanimous victory, pulling ahead decisively in the closing six rounds. Fury’s attempt to gain an advantage with a hard blow below the belt in the ninth round failed, as the outstanding Ukrainian had numerous tactical surprises and incredible adaptability to every shift in the bout against the well-prepared Fury.
“Anyone else would have been defeated by this version of Tyson,” remarked Conor McGregor.
He’s not alone in his praise:
“Kudos to Usyk, a true gentleman and a boxing maestro,” commented Oscar de la Hoya.
After receiving scorecards reading 116:112 from all three judges, the Brit expressed his conviction that he won at least three rounds more than Usyk. However, the supercomputer tracking the match was even more uncompromising, showing a score of 118:112 in favor of the WBC, WBA, and WBO champion.
With 23 wins in as many bouts, Usyk displays complete dominance in both the cruiser and heavyweight divisions, solidifying his position as one of the greatest in the sport’s history. His performance in the last two rounds confirms this beyond doubt.
“I’m an athlete, not a judge, so don’t ask me about that. I’m just pleased with the victory; I fulfilled the promise I made before the match – my sons placed their hands on my judo belts and said, ‘Now it’s your turn to do the job,'” emphasized Usyk.
Right after the fight, he accepted Daniel Dubois’ challenge for a match for the IBF belt, aiming to reclaim his status as the undisputed champion, a title he hasn’t defended since July.
Fury was not inclined to discuss his feelings immediately after the match, but he did share at the press conference afterward…
“I was quite confident. I thought I’d won the fight again… I believed I won both bouts. But now, I must come to terms with two losses on my record. All I can do is fight passionately and give it my all, but I will always hold on to the belief that I won this fight until my last day,” said the Gypsy King after experiencing his second career defeat at the hands of Usyk.
Despite Fury’s assertion that he was the dominant force, he failed to leverage his advantages in height, weight, and reach during the fight… He only managed, with notable determination, to stay upright against Usyk’s rapid left hook, although…
“It is what it is. I’m not going to dwell on what’s already happened. I’ve dedicated my life to boxing, and while I can’t change the results, these losses are particularly tough. However, I’m heading home now and wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I’ve spent 12 weeks away, and I put an immense amount of effort into this fight. Now, I plan to return home and enjoy life,” Fury concluded.
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