The first fight in Saudi Arabia was a close one. Usyk won by split decision after 12 rounds of slick skills, great footwork, and high-level defense from both fighters. The ninth round proved crucial when Usyk landed a big shot that nearly stopped Fury.
Fury stumbled and looked out on his feet. The referee gave him a count, and that moment likely swayed the judges' scorecards. After the fight, Fury admitted he got overconfident and started clowning around, which led to him getting caught.
In an interview with TNT Sports Boxing, Fury was asked if he thought the referee had stopped the fight in that ninth round.
"No, no, it's a world heavyweight title fight, undisputed, at least a man's got to go down to the floor. Someone like me, who's been down loads of times and gets back up, at least give me one chance."
When Usyk was asked about his thoughts during that moment, he simply replied, "I don't think about it."
The fight was originally planned for February but got pushed back when Fury suffered a bad cut late in sparring. Now, Fury must prove he can change his approach to avenge his only loss. He's known for handling rematches differently, as shown by his domination of Deontay Wilder after drawing their first bout.
Usyk, on the other hand, has achieved undisputed status in two weight classes. He cleaned up the cruiserweight division six years before his heavyweight victory.
The two champions have since rewatched their epic first fight together, setting the stage for what will surely be another engaging battle from first to last bell.