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After losing the undisputed world heavyweight championship at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tyson Fury remarked that sympathy towards war-torn Ukraine influenced the judges to award the fight to the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk. The post-fight comments from the Englishman came in light of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, which started over two years ago.
The first half of the highly anticipated boxing match between two undefeated boxers was too close to call with some of the famous personalities including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr, Ryan Garcia, and Anthony Joshua watching ringside. But, in the latter half, Oleksandr Usyk managed to turn things around in his favour against Tyson Fury with the fight going the full distance.
Following the completion of the 12 rounds, the Spanish judge Manuel Oliver Palermo and the Canadian judge Craig Metcalfe scored the fight in favour of Oleksandr Usyk 115-112 and 114-113 respectively. Meanwhile, the third judge from the United States, Mike Fitzgerald, scored the fight in favour of Tyson Fury 114-113.
In his post-fight comments inside the squared circle, Tyson Fury spoke about how he thought that the fight belonged to him against Oleksandr Usyk. He said, as per Sportskeeda, “I believe I won that fight. I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won a majority of them... We both put on a good fight, the best we could do. And you know, his country's at war. So, people are sidin g with a country at war. Make no mistake, I won that fight, in my opinion, and I will be back with our rematch clause.”
Oleksandr Usyk remembers late father after defeating Tyson Fury
Following his undisputed world heavyweight championship win against Tyson Fury by a split decision, Oleksandr Usyk remembered his father, who had passed away shortly after his triumph at the London Olympics 2012. When the Ukrainian was asked about his father moments after his win inside the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he remarked that his father is watching over him and he is very happy.
“I think my father [is] now watching me and [is] very happy. Daddy, I love you [Oleksandr Usyk said looking toward the sky]. I can [do it], you told me,” he said.
During the post-fight press conference, Oleksandr Usyk stated, “I say to my father, 'Hey listen, you live [in] death, I live here, please don't come for me. I love you.' For me, it hurts when my father comes for me because I remember all my life. I know he is here, may be like out there [pointing to the media stands].”
