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.
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 seriousness to his work. 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.
Two bruising left hooks landed flush on Fury in the fourth. ‘Keep it basic. he running around. Slow it down.’ Trainer SuharHill Steward told Fury after the fifth.
At the halfway stage, the eye-catching shot had come from Fury, the volume of punches from Usyk who 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.
It felt like it was all to play for in the championship rounds. Model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and actor husband Jason Statham watched from plush ringside seats, alongside a stellar list of boxing royalty including Roberto Duran, Lennox Lewis and Prince Naseem Hamed.
Usyk unleashed a sublime combination in the 11th. With Fury momentarily hurt, the champion applied the pressure.
Fury looked the more desperate of the pair as Usyk finished the fight on top. Though Fury cut a frustrated figure, there were no cries of robbery from ringside observers.
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