Tyson Fury Storms out After Oleksandr Usyk Defeat in World Heavyweight Championship: 'I Thought I Won'
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12/22/2024 07:24 AM
Fury was beaten in his heavy world championships rematch against Oleksandr Usyk on Dec. 22
Richard Pelham/Getty (2)
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr UsykTyson Fury is in disbelief over his latest defeat.
The former world heavyweight champion, 36, stormed out of the ring after losing out to Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk in their world heavyweight championships rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday, Dec. 22.
While waiting to hear the results in the ring, Tyson prematurely raised his arm in celebration seconds before Usyk, 37, was declared the winner by unanimous decision. He then stormed out of the ring without giving a post-match interview, in video footage released by the U.K. newspaper The Sun.
Tyson was comforted by his wife Paris Fury as he walked back to his dressing room appearing dejected, per The Sun.
AFP via Getty
Fury and Usyk compete during their heavyweight world championship rematch at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on Dec. 22Related: All About Tyson Fury's 5 Brothers, Including Fellow Boxers Tommy and Roman Fury
Tyson and Usyk fought it out in 12 intense rounds before a final score of 116-112 was awarded to Usyk, retaining his WBC, WBO, and WBA world heavyweight championship titles.
Both boxers didn't yield throughout the match as the stronger opponent shifted from one to the other up until the final round. In the end, Usyk struck a one-two jab just before the final bell, bringing him to victory, per Sky Sports.
Tyson said in his post-fight interview on Saturday, per the U.K. newspaper Express, "I swear to God, I thought I won by three rounds! I thought I won the fight again … I was on the front foot the entire time. When you don't get the knockout, this is what can happen."
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Usyk and Fury stand in the ring during the announcement of the winner after their heavyweight world championship rematch on Dec. 22Related: Tyson Fury Says He's Retiring for His Wife After Uppercut Helped Him Keep Heavyweight Title
Tyson said later in a press conference, per the outlet, "I feel like I won both fights. I know I had to knock him out but it's boxing and this happens. There is no doubt in my mind I won this fight … I'm not going to cry over spilled milk, it's over now."
"I've been in boxing my whole life but I'll always feel a little bit hard done by — not a little bit, a lot," he added.
Richard Pelham/Getty
Usyk celebrates victory following the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO Undisputed World Heavyweight titles' fight against Fury on Dec. 22The rematch comes after Usyk defeated Tyson in an earlier match in May.
Usyk won by a split decision after knocking Tyson down in the ninth round and winning the next two rounds. Tyson had been ahead after the first eight rounds. Usyk's victory in the match secured his title as the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt world titles, per ESPN.
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Tyson is next suspected to fight longtime rival Anthony Joshua, per Sky Sports.
Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, told the outlet, "It would be an instant sell out. It's definitely the only fight for Tyson Fury and other than the Dubois rematch, it's obviously the only fight for AJ."
