Saudi Arabian boxing chief Turki Alalshikh has broken his silence on the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury and the controversy surrounding judging at the event.
Usyk defeated Fury for the second time in 2024 after all three judges scored the fight unanimously 116-112 in his favour.
The heavyweight boxing rematch followed the first meeting between the pair in May in which Usyk also won but on a split judges' decision after two scored the fight in his favour and one backed Fury on that occasion.
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The unanimous decision in the rematch was one which neither Fury nor his promoter Frank Warren agreed with, as the former claimed the judges had given Usyk a 'Christmas gift' and was adamant he was the victor in both fights this year against the Ukrainian.
Speaking in the press conference after the fight in Riyadh, Fury said: "The judges gave him a Christmas gift. I feel like I won both fights.
"I know I had to knock him out but it's boxing and this happens. There is no doubt in my mind I won this fight.
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"Frank had me three or four rounds up and a lot of people had me up by at least two."
Saudi boxing kingpin Alalshikh has now taken to social media to post his lengthy reaction to the fight night in Riyadh, as well as giving his saying on how the bout between Fury and Usyk was scored.
Taking to X, Alalshikh believes Usyk won four more rounds than his opponent and he now is waiting to see Fury's plans moving forward and if the 'Gypsy King' opts to retire, but has left the door open for hosting another one of his fights in Saudi Arabia.
He wrote: "In the fight between Usyk and Tyson, I counted that Usyk has four rounds more.
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"That does not mean Tyson was performing bad no no no he gave us everything but let’s be honest Usyk one of the greatest boxers in this generation and he proved it with big names.
"And Tyson have a part in my heart and he is one of the important reasons that boxing is still keeping its legacy.
"Usyk told me he is ready to do any fight in the future, we agreed he rest for now and nothing before the result between [Daniel] Dubois and [Joseph] Parker.
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"And about Tyson I am waiting after he rest and take time his decision and I will understand if he retires if not I will be glad to do fights with him."
On the same evening, Johnny Fisher came out on top in an all-British fight against Dave Allen, albeit with a controversial split decision victory.
Fisher was dropped to the canvas in the fifth round but was able to continue, and though Allen and many in attendance felt he ought to have won, two judges scored the fight in Fisher's favour with scores of 95-94.
Alalshikh admitted that he counted this fight 'differently', and though he did not elaborate further on what he felt the score should have been, he stressed that his opinion 'shouldn't be considered as judgment'.
Topics: Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Boxing, Boxing News, Heavyweight Boxing, Saudi Arabia
John McDougall