Tyson Fury rejected his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in their heavyweight title rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
𝐑𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 🔥
A heavyweight rematch for the history books. @Tyson_Fury and Oleksandr Usyk run it back tomorrow night 🏆
⁰#UsykFury2 | Dec 21 | #RiyadhSeason | @SkySportsBoxing pic.twitter.com/8RLl6WoIHk— BOXXER (@boxxer) December 20, 2024
“I won that fight,” Fury told a press conference, despite all three judges scoring the bout 116-112 in favor of Usyk. Fury described Usyk’s victory as a “Christmas gift” from the judges.
The verdict was more definitive than the split-decision ruling in May, which had also given Usyk the win. “I thought I won both fights but I’m going home with two losses on my record,” Fury said. “There’s not much I can do about it.
𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗬'𝗥𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗚𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗚 🤯
The face-off between @Tyson_Fury and Oleksandr Usyk approaches 10 minutes 😳#UsykFury2 | Dec 21 | #RiyadhSeason | @SkySportsBoxing pic.twitter.com/dLWBTeaKVB
— BOXXER (@boxxer) December 19, 2024
I can just fight my heart out.”
Tyson Fury asked by Ukrainian journalist if he felt Usyk’s spirit in the ring: I felt some Xmas spirit, I think he got a little Xmas gift from the judges.
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) December 22, 2024
Fury expressed his belief that he was the aggressor throughout the fight, landing shots to Usyk’s body and head. His promoter, Frank Warren, had him ahead by three or four rounds. “When you don’t get the KO this is what happens: you can’t guarantee a win,” Fury said.
Congratulations Usyk, you are a gentleman and a scholar. Tyson my amigo, back to the drawing board. YOU WILL BE BACK!!
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) December 21, 2024
Fury dismissed the notion that Usyk was inspired by the spirit of his war-torn country, Ukraine. “I didn’t feel no spirit. I felt a bit of Christmas spirit in there and think he got a Christmas gift from those judges,” he said.
Even an experimental AI “judge” scored the fight 118-112 for Usyk. Fury responded humorously, saying, “By the review of that, absolutely shit. Fuck all the computers, keep the humans going.
Fury disputes judges’ scoring decision
More jobs for humans, less jobs for computers. Fuck electric cars too, while we’re at it.”
Usyk praised Fury as “a great fighter” after the bout.
Fury said he plans to go home and enjoy Christmas with his family after being away for 12 weeks preparing for the fight. Warren expressed his disappointment with the judges’ scorecards. “How did Tyson only get four rounds in this fight?
It’s impossible,” he said. “I thought he was in control of the fight and boxed extremely well.”
Fury’s future is now uncertain following his second loss to Usyk, the only man to have beaten him in his 16-year professional career. However, Fury remained grudging in his praise of the Ukrainian champion.
“In that fight he never hurt me once. I’ve got a few flesh wounds – and they’ll be gone in a few days,” Fury said. “In my opinion it was a Christmas gift.
It’s not Oleksandr’s fault – congrats to him and his team.”
Usyk was more gracious towards his opponent, saying, “He is a great fighter. He is a great opponent. He gave an unbelievable 24 rounds for my career.
Thank you very much.”
