‘I won that fight’: Tyson Fury rejects defeat as judges’ ‘Christmas gift’ to Oleksandr Usyk

Tyson Fury referred to Oleksandr Usyk's win over him as a "Christmas present" from the three judges, who all had the match scored at 116-112 in favor of Usyk. This decision was noticeably clearer than the split-decision result that had Usyk winning in their May bout.

At the press conference after the fight, Fury expressed a different opinion: “I truly believed I won that match. In fact, I think I deserved to win both matches, yet I’m returning home with two losses on my record. There’s not much I can change now. All I can do is give my all in the ring.”

"I'll always believe that I won that match, right up until the end of my days. I was the one pushing forward the entire time, attacking both the body and head. Frank Warren, my promoter, had me ahead by three or four rounds. Many others felt I was at least two rounds ahead as well. However, I won’t dwell on what’s already happened. The decision can't be reversed. When you don’t achieve a knockout, this is the outcome; a win isn't guaranteed."

When a Ukrainian journalist inquired whether Fury believed that Usyk drew motivation from the resilient spirit of his war-ravaged homeland, Fury responded with a hint of sadness: “I didn’t sense any spirit. I felt a bit of holiday cheer in that ring, and it seems like he received an early Christmas present from those judges.”

Fury learned that the use of artificial intelligence in the experimental judging had not worked in his favor. The AI “judge” scored the match 118-112 in favor of Usyk. Fury had a humorous reaction to this, sharing his thoughts on AI. “From what I saw, it's completely useless,” he commented. "Forget the machines, let’s keep humans in charge. More jobs for people and fewer for computers. And while we’re at it, I’m not a fan of electric cars either."

When asked about his plans for the future, he said, "I just want to go home and celebrate Christmas. I've spent the last 12 weeks focused on preparing for this fight. Now, I’m ready to head back and enjoy the holiday. We'll ring in the new year, and I’m curious to see what it has in store for us."

Warren expressed his confusion regarding the judges' scorecards. He questioned, "How could Tyson have only won four rounds in this match? That makes no sense." Speaking to Dazn, he added, "Each judge gave him four separate rounds. I’m not being biased here; everyone in the audience felt the fight went similarly."

"It's crazy. I just don't understand it. I'm genuinely let down by that outcome. I believed he was dominating the match and fighting brilliantly. Usyk was mostly on the defensive throughout the bout, but that's just how it goes."

Fury’s future is now uncertain after losing to Usyk for the second time in a row, but Warren chose not to predict his next steps. “I can't say. He’s really upset, just like I am. It’s his decision to make,” Warren stated. “It’s too soon after the fight to discuss. Emotions are pretty intense right now. We’ll just have to wait and see what Tyson decides to do moving forward.”

Usyk is the only person to have defeated Fury, who started his pro career 16 years ago this month. However, the British fighter was reluctant to give him full credit. He didn't even acknowledge Usyk as the toughest opponent he has ever faced. "Not really. He didn't hurt me at all during that fight. I have a few minor cuts, but they'll heal in a few days. I understand what happened, and that's all there is to it."

Fury expressed his view once again, stating, "I see it as a Christmas present. It’s not Oleksandr's fault – congratulations to him and his team."

Usyk was noticeably more respectful when speaking about Fury: “He’s an outstanding fighter and a tough competitor. He has contributed an incredible 24 rounds to my career. I really appreciate it.”