According to promoter Frank Warren, Tyson Fury was dominating Oleksandr Usyk with his boxing skills until he unfortunately experienced a bloody nose during their heavyweight clash on Saturday night.
As the ‘Gypsy King’ rose from his seat for the ninth round, a round filled with intense drama that would be etched in the annals of heavyweight history, crimson liquid gushed from his nostrils, subsequently impacting his performance for the remainder of the fight.
Fury’s struggle against Usyk’s relentless assault on the ninth round will forever be etched in memory, as it jeopardized the fight’s outcome. However, referee Mark Nelson came to Fury’s rescue by administering a standing eight count, ultimately saving him from a potential defeat.
In the span of eight rounds, judge Manuel Oliver Palimo awarded four points to Fury, whereas judges Craig Metcalfe and Mike Fitzgerald favored the Brit with a total of five points.
Warren, who co-promotes Fury alongside Bob Arum, described the fight as a remarkable spectacle where two undefeated fighters gave their all.
It was evident that Tyson had a temporary lapse in concentration due to his nose issue. Prior to that, he was skillfully teaching Usyk a lesson in boxing techniques.
Initially, I believed that he had broken his nose. This assumption was based on his continuous touching of it, didn’t he? Furthermore, he appeared to be having difficulty breathing.
“However, Oleksandr, being the warrior he is, managed to regain his momentum and had a remarkable round. Nevertheless, I personally believed Tyson came out victorious, and I shared the same opinion as the judge, Craig Metcalfe, who awarded the victory to Tyson.”
Despite Fury’s impressive rally in the final round, Usyk maintained his advantage throughout the fight, putting him under immense pressure. Although all three judges awarded the last round to Fury, Usyk emerged as the undisputed heavyweight champion.
Warren acknowledged that many would argue against his perspective, but he genuinely believed that Fury emerged as the victor. Despite the varying opinions, he emphasized the greatness of the fight and the memorable experience it provided in the Kingdom.