Full Fight Recap- Oleksandr Usyk retains his unified title after beating Tyson Fury
Oleksandr Usyk has retained his unified world heavyweight title, defeating Tyson Fury by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 116-112 in favour of the reigning champion. The result has sparked backlash, with many feeling that a draw or a Fury victory would have been a fairer reflection of the contest.
The fight followed an entertaining undercard, which saw Johnny Fisher secure a controversial victory over David Allen. Despite being knocked down during the bout, the 25-year-old claimed a win on points. The decision has caused uproar in the boxing community, with many taking to social media to voice their frustrations. The Sun dubbed Fisher “Eddie Hearn’s ticket-selling cash cow,” while Allen has since criticised the result on X (formerly Twitter), saying it disrespected the sport. Another undercard fight featured Serhii Bohachuk against Ishmael Davis, with Bohachuk emerging victorious after Davis’s corner threw in the towel in the sixth round. The final undercard bout showcased Moses Itauma’s rising talent, as the 19-year-old stopped Demsey McKean in the first round. Itauma is widely regarded as one of boxing’s hottest prospects.
The main event began with both fighters exchanging flurries of fast, low body shots in the opening round, each showing caution and respect for the other’s power. Fury dominated the centre of the ring early on, but Usyk, despite his smaller frame, got in close to neutralise Fury’s reach—a tactic he used notably in the second round. Fury landed more punches in the second, though none were particularly powerful. He even appeared to wobble Usyk towards the end of the round.
Round three saw both men go head-to-head, trading a series of jabs and hooks, but neither landed anything decisive. In the fourth, Usyk grew into the fight, landing a series of impressive combinations and strikes. Fury responded by using his reach and footwork to keep Usyk at a distance. The first four rounds were evenly contested, with no clear winner. Fury consistently held the centre of the ring, using his height and reach advantage to walk Usyk around—a marked improvement from their first encounter.
As the fight progressed, Usyk began to gain control, while Fury lost some dominance over the centre of the ring. By round nine, viewers’ scorecards widely reflected a stalemate. The unified world title fight, broadcast on DAZN, Sky Sports, and TNT Sports, proved thrilling, despite neither fighter managing a knockdown. Both men maintained impressive stamina, showing no signs of fading in cardio as the bout wore on. Usyk appeared to make some good jabs on Fury in the tenth round, with Fury looking looser in his guard. However, Fury displayed his renowned skill, using excellent head movement to evade the advancing Ukrainian.
Throughout the fight, Fury switched between orthodox and southpaw stances, demonstrating his versatility. In the championship rounds of the 11th and 12th, Fury looked energetic, showing he had learned from their first fight. The final round saw both fighters unleash everything they had, throwing caution to the wind in a desperate bid to claim the belts.
Usyk’s victory now means he has reinforced his position as the unified champion, a legacy defining moment.
