Oleksandr Usyk defeats Tyson Fury in rematch

In a rematch billed as ‘reignited’, the sport’s two most technically gifted heavyweights served up another classic and showcased elite level boxing.

The Gypsy King was in playful mood with an unorthodox ring entrance to Mariah Carey’s ‘All I want for Christmas is You’.

Dressed as Father Christmas, he was still sporting the bushy beard which was cleared at a rules meeting despite protests from Usyk’s team.

A stern-faced Usyk marched to the ring in super-quick time. Wearing a warrior-like robe, he crouched in the corner to recite a prayer.

Oleksandr Usyk Defeats Tyson Fury in action packed Rematch (photos/videos)

After a lengthy 11 minute face-off on Thursday, Fury and Usyk picked up where they left off; their eyes fixated on each other as met in the centre of the ring.

Neither man over-committed in a cagey opening round. Fury showboated his way through the first fight but there was more serious this time .

He wobbled Usyk in the closing seconds of the second.

With a six inch height, eight inch reach and four stone weight advantage, Fury used his physicality to keep Usyk at range.

But just as he did in the first fight, Usyk found success targeting Fury’s body.

Oleksandr Usyk Defeats Tyson Fury in action packed Rematch (photos/videos)
At the halfway stage, the eye-catching shot had come from Fury, but the volume of punches from Usyk increased as he began to close the gap.

An overhand left connected cleanly Fury’s forehead in the sixth. Fury was slowing down and Usyk heading into his groove.

Team Fury suggested a lack of sparring due to an eye injury hampered his preparation for the first fight, and there was a definite improvement. He found a second wind to edge the ninth round.

Usyk unleashed a sublime combination in the 11th round, With Fury momentarily hurt, the champion applied the pressure.

Fury looked the more desperate of the pair as Usyk finished the last round on top. Fury cut a frustrated figure after the result was announced , with all three judges scoring in Usyk‘s Favour . With Usyk‘s win, Fuey can now be regarded as the second best boxer of his generation while Usyk will now be regarded as the best heavyweight boxer of this generation.