'Uncle Frank, I think blind' – Oleksandr Usyk dismisses Frank Warren comments after beating Tyson Fury in Riyadh
Published 22/12/2024 at 09:32 GMT
Boxing promoter Frank Warren said he was "dumbfounded" by the judges' decision to award Oleksandr Usyk victory over Tyson Fury in Riyadh on Saturday night, but the Ukrainian saw things differently, labelling the promoter "blind" in his post-fight press conference. Usyk won by unanimous decision to make it back-to-back victories against Fury, who claimed he did enough to win despite the outcome.
‘That is a nonsense’ – A ‘dumbfounded’ Warren slams unanimous decision as ‘crazy’
Video credit: TNT Sports
Oleksandr Usyk called Frank Warren "blind" after the promoter insisted Tyson Fury deserved to win the unified heavyweight title fight on Saturday night.
Usyk won by unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the fight 116-112 following another close battle in Saudi Arabia.
Fury and Warren claimed the win should have been theirs on a night that divided opinion.
"One judge gave Usyk the last seven rounds," Warren said. "How on earth can anyone say he never won one round out of the last seven? I'm dumbfounded at the scoring."
Fury added: "I thought I won that fight again. I thought I won both fights but I'm going home with two losses on my record.
"Not much I can do about it. I can just fight my heart out and do the best I can. I’ll believe until the day I die that I won that fight. I was aggressive, on the front foot all night, landing body and head.
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Highlights: Usyk beats Fury by unanimous decision to retain titles after engrossing fight
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I think he got a Christmas gift from the judges."
Usyk, who defended his WBA, WBO and WBC heavyweight titles and extended his perfect record to 23 wins from 23 fights, had a different viewpoint.
"Uncle Frank, I think blind," said the Ukrainian in his post-fight press conference. "If Tyson says Christmas gift, OK, thank you God, not Tyson, thank you my team. Listen, Frank, crazy man I think, in my opinion. No problem. I win."
- What is Fury's boxing record? Has Usyk ever lost? Who is pound-for-pound best?
- What could Fury do next after second Usyk bout? Trilogy? AJ super fight? Retire?
Usyk, after a second victory over the previously undefeated Fury, spoke highly of his opponent.
"Tyson Fury makes me strong," he said. "Tyson is a great opponent, a big man, a tough boxer. He's a good man. He has a lot of talking but it's just show. 24 rounds, but now it's already history."
On his plans for the coming months, Usyk added: "My next step, I'm going to rest. Today my wife sent me a video with my little daughter saying, 'daddy, daddy'. I'm going to go home, rest, off my phone and close my house and look at the sky, not think about boxing, Tyson Fury, just rest, just play with my children."
Fury, likewise, revealed his intention to take a break, looking battered and bruised after his latest gruelling fight.
Asked whether he would continue to fight, the 36-year-old said: "I’m having some time off. I might do, I might not. Who knows? We’ll talk about that next year."
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Frampton: Usyk is an absolute boxing great
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How to watch Usyk v Fury 2
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