Former world champions Lennox Lewis, Tony Bellew and Anthony Crolla were among the many spectators who felt Oleksandr Usyk’s unanimous points win over Tyson Fury was controversial.
The Ukrainian claimed victory in their first world heavyweight title fight in May 2024 via a contentious split decision, but the result was more conclusive in their rematch in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
All three judges scored the bout 116-112 in favour of the undefeated 37-year-old.
“I didn’t score it, but it was close. He [Fury] should have got more rounds in there,” former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Fellow Briton Crolla, the former WBA world lightweight champion, said: “I have no problem with Usyk getting it. I thought it was very close, I didn’t think it was that far apart.”
Former world cruiserweight champion Bellew, who was knocked out by Ukrainian Usyk in November 2018, wrote on X: “Too wide, but I did have him winning.
“I understand why, it’s the pressure and the consistency of his work-rate that just takes rounds down – it really is.
“Tyson Fury is a warrior who deserves so much respect for going back in with him.”
‘No way in a million years Warren thought Tyson won’
Fury weighed in at a career-high 20st 1lb as he looked to avenge the only defeat on his sparkling professional record and looked to have the upper hand in the opening exchanges of the fight.
As the rounds wore on, the boxing genius of Usyk saw him gain control as he pushed the pace of the bout.
Former WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson said on Sky Sports he had the fight “a little bit closer” than the judges.
“Usyk initiated almost everything in the fight and Tyson had to react,” he said.
“Yes, it was close, I don’t think the scorecards were like that, but I understand that Usyk did a great job.
“Frank [Warren] was saying he thought Tyson won – that’s being a promoter. There’s no way in a million years he thought Tyson won.
“The best man won on the night and got the job done.”
Fury and Usyk’s promoters had very different ideas on how the fight should have been scored with the Queensberry chief backing the Briton.
“How come Tyson only got four rounds in this fight? It’s impossible,” Warren said.
“He’s very disappointed as I am as well. Everyone along the front [of the ring] thought it was all the same way.”
However, Team Usyk’s Alex Krassyuk thought Fury was right to have been given just four rounds.
“I had Fury three or four rounds,” he said.
“The judges gave him four. That’s the fairest score it could be.”
