Oleksandr Usyk remained undefeated when he effectively defended his undisputed heavyweight belt with a unanimous choice over Tyson Anger on Saturday evening in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Judges Gerardo Martinez, Patrick Morley and Ignacio Robles had similar scorecards to be preferred of Usyk, 116-112.
Usyk landed 179 of the 423 (42 %) punches thrown, presen Anger (34-2-1, 24 KOs) landed simply 144 of the 509 punches he threw, a 28 % clip.
Requested if he indubitably with the judges’ rankings, Usyk implied that it used to be no longer his playground to query, handiest to field. “I win, it’s good,” mentioned Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs). “Not my deal. I win. Thank you, God.”
The extremely expected rematch from a Might bout wherein Anger suffered his first loss lived as much as the hype from the week the boxers entered the sector.
Usyk’s group asked the Heart East Skilled Boxing Fee all over Friday’s regulations assembly to mandate that Anger shorten his beard forward in their unified heavyweight championship rematch.
He had a beard as burly as Santa Claus lower than a time prior to Christmas, however the 36-year-old sauntered in unshaven and donning a shining purple Christmas-themed gown with Mariah Carey’s All I Need for Christmas is You accompanying his progress to the hoop.
Later Anger opened the battle with a in lieu fast week and regulated the primary two rounds, Usyk spoke back within the 3rd and fourth rounds by means of operating the frame presen slipping in occasional energy combos to the top.
Anger landed a number of weighty photographs within the 5th spherical, however Usyk’s left hand used to be the tale within the 6th, staggering his larger and taller opponent two times.
In the second one part of the battle, it become obvious that wearing the difference weight used to be dressed in Anger ill, because the week started to catch as much as him presen Usyk’s calmness and affected person means favoured him. Usyk’s skill to get inside of, clash temporarily and injury Anger with stinging combos used to be the remaining.
Feeling the force, a spirited Anger got here out swinging within the tenth, bullying Usyk all the way through the spherical. Usyk held him off from time to time with a gradual jab, presen an uppercut from Anger scored overdue.
Usyk’s pace got here to while once more within the eleventh, touchdown blistering combos to Anger’s head to conserve him at bay.
The 2 traded flurries of punches within the ultimate spherical, Anger hoping to manufacture one ultimate affect at the judges presen Usyk used to be on the lookout for an exclamation level.
Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s Normal Leisure Authority, introduced on X (previously Twitter) previous within the time that an experimental AI pass judgement on would additionally go back effects. The cutting edge digital machine has Usyk profitable, 118-112.
Anger, who’s now 5-1 in rematches, left the hoop straight away later the outcome used to be introduced, however next informed journalists within the dressing room department: “I thought I won it by at least three rounds. I bossed the fight.”
Talking within the press convention, carrying a bruised proper optic, he added: “I believed I’ve gained each fights, however upcoming once more I’ve were given two losses on my file now, so there’s no longer a lot I will do about it.
“I can just fight me heart out and do the best I can. But I’ll always believe until the day I die that I won that fight.”
Handiest 3 belts have been at the series this moment later the IBF stripped Usyk for no longer dealing with its necessary challenger, Daniel Dubois.
Dubois interrupted Usyk’s post-fight interview, snatched the microphone and demanded a rematch from their battle on August 26, 2023. Usyk gained by means of knockout within the 9th spherical.
“I want my revenge, Usyk,” Dubois mentioned. “Well done tonight, but I want my revenge.”
Usyk obliged by means of telling the powers that be in attendance: “Your Excellency, make me fight with Daniel. Thank you so much.”
