Oleksandr Usyk beats Tyson Fury again to retain heavyweight titles in Riyadh rematch
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Tyson Fury's mission to avenge his only professional defeat ended in crushing disappointment as he lost on a unanimous points decision to unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh.
Another classic encounter between the well-matched rivals ended with Usyk retaining his WBC, WBA and WBO belts by finishing 116-112 ahead on all three judges' scorecards.
It was a fair reflection of the Ukrainian's control of the rematch given he set the pace for most of the 12 rounds and was the harder worker, landing more frequently and with greater impact.
Tyson Fury weighed a career-high 20stones 1lbs for his mission to avenge his only professional defeat against Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh.
Ukrainian Usyk, the WBA, WBC and WBO world heavyweight champion, entered the fight as marginal favourite after winning the first contest in May by split decision.
Fury entered the ring with his beard intact despite protests from Usyk's camp that it was too long.
Fury entered the fight at a fully-clothed 20stones 1lbs, almost four stones heavier than Usyk, and right from the start he took centre of the ring, showing more intent to carry the fight to his opponent.
Towering over the champion, the Briton spat out his jab but he was also taking shots to the body and by the second round he was being stalked around the ring by Usyk - a theme of the first fight.
The pace was being set by Usyk but both fighters were landing in a lively start to the clash.
Usyk connected with two big left hands in a fourth round that ebbed and flowed and as the fight approached the halfway stage it was desperately close.
Fury staggered the Ukrainian with a short left uppercut and having taken a flurry of blows to his body, he hit back with intent. Unlike their first meeting, there was no showboating from the challenger.
The fifth was the Gypsy King's best round yet as he imposed his size and power, all while working behind his pinpoint jab, but he was caught several times in the sixth.
Fury's output began to drop and he was being driven backwards with Usyk's left hand giving him plenty of problems.
It was relentless pressure from Usyk, who put together a lovely sequence of shots in the eighth and finished the three minutes by backing Fury up against the ropes.
The ninth round was the turning point in May when Fury was saved by the bell and while that night's dramatics were missing in the rematch, Usyk was showing similar purpose as he continued to build momentum.
The ninth round was the turning point in May when Fury was saved by the bell and while those dramatics were missing this time, Usyk was showing similar purpose as he continued to build momentum.
He swarmed over the bigger man in the 10th but also took shots himself and as the last two rounds arrived it was perhaps Fury who needed to do something to catch the judges' eyes.
A storming final round saw the rivals exchange blows with each having their moments in a high quality finish full of courage and skill.