"Gypsy King" complimented the Ukrainian champion.
Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in an uncharacteristic manner recalled his first fight against the holder of the WBA, WBO, WBC and IBO titles Oleksandr Usyk, in which he lost by split decision.
According to the “Gypsy King”, he is pleased with the fact that it was the Ukrainian who inflicted the first defeat of his career.
“If you watch the highlights of the fight, all you see is me being thrown around for 30 seconds. The whole fight wasn't like that, but that's what they're using. So I give credit to Usyk, his family and everyone else. Congratulations.
If anyone was going to beat me, I'm glad it was Usyk because he's a God-fearing Christian and a family man. So I give credit to the guy,” the Briton said in an interview with the YouTube channel iFL TV.
The Usyk-Fury rematch will take place on December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All the titles that the Ukrainian boxer holds will be on the line.
Unlike the first fight, this time the title of absolute world champion will not be at stake, since Alexander had previously renounced the IBF title. Now it is in the hands of Daniel Dubois, who has already managed to defend it by knocking out Anthony Joshua.
Recall that on the night of May 19, 2024, Usyk defeated Fury by split decision in a fight for the title of absolute world heavyweight champion. At the end of the ninth round, Alexander knocked his opponent down.
Thus, Alexander defended the WBO, WBA, IBO and IBF belts, and also took the WBC title from the “Gypsy King”. Usyk became the first absolute world champion in the heavyweight division in the 21st century.
Before that, the last “absolute” heavyweight champion was Lennox Lewis, who won this status in 1999, when he defeated Evander Holyfield. At that time, the WBA, WBC and IBF titles were at stake. The WBO belt was recognized as equal in 2007, so Usyk became the first “absolute” heavyweight champion in history with four main titles.