Oleksandr Usyk's classy remark on "best friend" Tyson Fury after two epic fights earns a round of applause during press conference
Oleksandr Usyk praised Tyson Fury following what looks like the conclusion of their competitive rivalry. Usyk handed Fury a unanimous decision loss to retain the WBA, WBC, IBO, WBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles in a closely contested rematch on Dec. 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Earlier, he had defeated 'The Gypsy King' in May, becoming the first undisputed heavyweight world champion in over two decades.
Despite the fierce and competitive nature of the build-up to their fights, both men demonstrated mutual respect after their recent bout. Reflecting on their rivalry, Usyk shared his thoughts at the post-fight press conference:
"This is my best friend. Yeah, listen, I really respect this guy. Because I think [he is one of my toughest] opponents. Tyson Fury makes me strong. Tyson Fury, not like he motivated me, but he is a great opponent. It's a big man, he's a tough boxer. That's a good man. He talks a lot, right? But it's just a show. I respect Tyson Fury a lot. 24 rounds! Listen, now it's history."
Usyk's humble gesture and words of praise toward his rival generated a round of applause from the members of the media and audiences.
Check out Oleksandr Usyk's comments below (1:50):
Oleksandr Usyk reacts to Frank Warren and Tyson Fury criticizing the scorecards - "Crazy man"
In their Dec. 21 rematch, Tyson Fury established an early lead with an effective jab and by cleverly leveraging his physical attributes. However, as the fight progressed into the later rounds, Oleksandr Usyk gradually took control. All three judges ultimately scored the bout 116-112 in favor of Usyk.
In his post-fight comments, Fury criticized the judges' decision, claiming that the decision was a "Christmas gift" to Usyk. Meanwhile, his promoter Frank Warren also expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the judges unfairly awarded Usyk most of the later rounds.
When asked to share his thoughts on the criticism, Usyk said at the post-fight press conference:
"Uncle Frank, I think [he's] blind. If Tyson says it's a Christmas gift, okay! Thank you, God, Not Tyson. Thank you, my coach... my team. Listen, Frank's is a crazy man, I think, that's my opinion. Okay, No problem! I win." [3:18]
The latest win over Fury is another significant accomplishment of Usyk's heavyweight boxing career. He holds wins over former champion Anthony Joshua (twice) and newly crowned IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois. He previously reigned as the cruiserweight champion.