Victory over Tyson Fury proved Oleksandr Usyk’s an all-time great

Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury II might not have been a heart-stopping fight, but it was a fight between the two best heavyweights in the world, which is exciting, and creates buzz and anticipation.

Both fights were very tactical. Neither are candidates for the fight of 2024, but both fighters showcased a high boxing IQ throughout both contests. 

Second time around, both again impressed, but it was Usyk who carried the pace of the fight more effectively. Whenever a fight is tactical, it’s important to analyse whose fight the two fighters are fighting. Even if you’re the one dictating the nature of fight, it doesn’t mean you’re dominating – but it was Usyk’s rhythm they were mostly fighting to, even if there were times when Fury came forward and tried to take control. 

Above all else, it was Usyk’s footwork that had the biggest influence. Fury succeeded with some sharp right hands, and marked Usyk up, but Usyk’s rhythm, sense of positioning and ability to box while going backwards and forwards was the most potent weapon of all. It was also Usyk who most effectively closed out the fight – by the final bell, Fury had very little left. Usyk’s feinting and body punching had taken their toll. 

Fury objected to the three scores of 116-112 in Usyk’s favour. I scored seven rounds to five in Usyk’s favour, and despite there being some very close rounds believe 116-112 was a more accurate reflection than 114-114 would have been. For what it’s worth, I don’t believe Fury believes he won in May, or this time.

Fury’s career-heaviest weight, of 281lbs, also contributed. He wanted to force a more physical fight, like in his rematch with Deontay Wilder, but Usyk’s feet are so much better than Wilder’s – he can’t be bullied and pushed backwards like Wilder can, because he’ll change the angle and counter and become the aggressor. He can transition from defence to offence as effectively as any, and does so smoothly and with creativity. 

Every time Fury threw only a single jab, Usyk was invited to counter him, and again put Fury on to the back foot. When Fury doubled up the jab – which he was unable to do unless he was in the right position – he forced Usyk backwards and dictated more. He fought like he didn’t appreciate how effective his double jab was being – perhaps because it didn’t land, but it didn’t necessarily need to if it also affected Usyk’s position. Moving Usyk backwards and forcing him to reposition himself was working in Fury’s favour.

I understand why Fury was so heavy, but it concerned me on his behalf that Usyk’s feet wouldn’t allow him to achieve what he was trying to. Once a fighter is that heavy, unless they’re using that weight to their advantage it becomes a disadvantage – the later the fight went, the more it worked against him.

Usyk’s a solid puncher – not a hugely concussive one. But he can constantly hurt his opponents via various rhythms of boxing, which makes even opponents as big as Fury hesitant. The way he boxed as the smaller fighter was gutsy, of course, but above all else it was exceptionally intelligent. He proved, once again, that the best fighters are always the smartest.

Just because Fury’s lost successive fights, having previously been undefeated, doesn’t necessarily mean he’s past his best. The heavyweight he lost to is not only the best of the modern era, but perhaps the best of many, and he was competitive against him. How he fares against alternative opponents is a better gauge of that. If he fights and beats Anthony Joshua in 2025, and then fights and beats Daniel Dubois, that narrative will change. 

I’m aware there’s talk of a rematch between Usyk and Dubois, but the time has come for Usyk to retire – he’s at the very top and has nothing left to prove. There was also a wet ring that night in Poland in 2023 when they fought – if anything, Usyk would win a rematch even more convincingly. The only thing that seems capable of beating him at 37 is if he shows up on fight night as a fighter who got old overnight. 

Usyk’s in the conversation with Muhammad Ali and Lennox Lewis as the greatest heavyweight we’ve ever seen. He could at the very least compete with any heavyweight in history. He’s also in the conversation with “Sugar” Ray Robinson and more as the greatest we’ve seen at any weight. He’s very special.