But by then it was already too late. The judges saw Usyk already well in the lead at this moment. Nothing changed in the twelfth and final round of this high-class but unspectacular battle. Usyk had everything under control. He won the close fight confidently. A contradiction. But not for Usyk.
Maybe it’s true what the man who fought an incredible 350 amateur fights before entering the professional business says about himself: “I’m much better as a dancer than I am as a boxer.” What sounds strange actually makes sense. Usyk constantly dances on the razor’s edge in the ring, he takes on physically superior opponents, deals with them brilliantly tactically, can take a lot and in the end punches them out in a classic way. Probably no one can play this game of risk as well as him. Except maybe Muhammad Ali.
Fury left the hall immediately after the verdict, which was disappointing for him. Of all people, he, usually never at a loss for a sharp leap, took flight. He didn’t even want to take part in the ring interview. What will happen next for him remains to be seen. His promoter, Frank Warren, was deeply disappointed with the outcome of the fight. The Fury camp had actually expected a third fight. But that is more than questionable. While still in the ring, heavyweight competitor Daniel Dubois entered the stage and with a cocky gesture challenged Usyk to a duel. He replied dryly: “No problem.”
Fury, on the other hand, wants to go back to his family first. The former world champion had prepared harder than ever for a fight, as he told The Guardian, among others. His training camp in Malta consisted of nothing other than training, boxing and food. He disappeared from the camp with his brother once a week. On Sundays to go to church.
The 2.06 meter tall giant is considered God-fearing. However, he has never been afraid of his opponents so far. Fury has dominated the heavyweight scene for years not because of his brilliant technique, but because of his shirtless demeanor. He regularly put his opponents through the ringer, even mocked them in the ring, hobbled around between the ropes, let his opponents punch into the void and then when they were tired of boxing, he would strike. In this way he won title after title. For a long time it seemed that no one could harm this giant of the traveling people. Then came Usyk.