Usyk Beats Fury Again in 2024 Rematch
Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury entered their December 2024 rematch after a first fight in which Usyk’s late combinations badly shook Fury and helped secure a split-decision win. The claim that Usyk could hurt the much larger Fury had already been tested in the ring: late in their May meeting, Usyk’s left hand and follow-up combinations badly shook Fury and forced a count. Fury survived, but the sequence changed the fight and helped Usyk secure a split-decision win. ESPN recapped the first fight’s split decision.
The rematch settled the first debate
The second fight took place in Riyadh on December 21, 2024. Usyk again defeated Fury, this time by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring it 116–112. The result made their two-fight series 2–0 in Usyk’s favor. ESPN reported the result and identical scorecards.
More heavyweight milestones
Usyk’s next major victory came against Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on July 19, 2025. He stopped Dubois with a fifth-round knockout to regain the undisputed heavyweight championship. The pair had already met in 2023, when Usyk won by ninth-round stoppage; their 2025 rematch ended earlier. ESPN covered the fifth-round finish and undisputed title.
In May 2026, Usyk defended the WBC heavyweight title against Dutch kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza. Verhoeven made the contest unexpectedly difficult, but Usyk scored two knockdowns and won by an 11th-round stoppage with one second left. The late ending drew debate, even as the official result kept Usyk unbeaten. Reuters reported the final-round stoppage and disputed ending.
A farewell fight is still unsettled
In June 2026, Usyk relinquished his WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight belts, saying he wanted to make room for other contenders and still had one final fight ahead. His WBO title had been relinquished earlier. A farewell bout with Deontay Wilder was later discussed for 2027, but reports on October 14 said talks had stalled over financial terms. No opponent or date has been officially confirmed. Reuters reported the three-title decision and his final-fight plan, while Reuters covered his earlier WBO vacancy. MMA Mania reported that talks with Wilder broke down over the financial terms.
Fury publicly called for a third fight in September 2026 while his planned bout with Anthony Joshua was in doubt. Usyk’s camp said he would not be treated as a backup opponent. The rivalry remains one of heavyweight boxing’s defining recent matchups, but a trilogy is only speculation until the fighters agree to terms. As of October 14, Usyk’s next appearance is unannounced. The Washington Post reported Fury’s callout and Usyk’s camp’s response.
Sources
Tags: Boxing, Combat Sports
