Tyson Fury tasted defeat for the first time in his career at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk, losing him the WBC belt he snatched from Deontay Wilder back in 2020.
The sensational stoppage win for Fury was the second instalment of a trilogy with Wilder after the pair first fought to a draw. The Brit would win by knockout again in the third.
Their rivalry is not one often seen in boxing in which the fighters develop respect and even friendship outside of the ring after battle. Wilder has consistently branded Fury a cheater.
Speaking on the Usyk fight, the 37-year-old from Alabama told a media scrum that there was no doubt around the scorecards and that he felt that the fight should have ended in round nine when Usyk had Fury wobbling all over the ring.
He likely feels it reminiscent of his own twelfth round with Fury in their first fight when ‘The Gypsy King’ produced a miraculous recovery from a heavy knockdown courtesy of the American puncher.
“I thought it was a great fight. I was on the fence of things, I didn’t know who was going to win. I always think it’s what dog brings what bite to the fight and Oleksandr’s bite was bigger than his.
I think he [Usyk] got robbed in the ninth round of a knockout for sure, gifts, gifts, were given.”
Fury now has a contracted rematch with Usyk which is understood to be slated for November or December this year back in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Wilder has recently stated that he believes a fourth fight with Fury will happen before they retire. He faces Zhilei Zhang this weekend in what most see as a must-win fight. Fans can tune in live on DAZN.
SecondsOut.com
