\n<\/p>\n
In a rematch billed as Usyk v Fury ‘reignited’, the sport’s two most technically gifted heavyweights served up another classic and showcased elite level boxing.<\/p>\n
The Gypsy King was in playful mood with an unorthodox ring entrance to Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’.<\/p>\n
Dressed as Father Christmas, Fury was still sporting the bushy beard which was cleared at a rules meeting amid protests from Usyk’s team.<\/p>\n
A stern-faced Usyk marched to the ring in super-quick time. Wearing a warrior-like robe, he crouched in the corner to recite a prayer.<\/p>\n
After an 11-minute face-off on Thursday, Fury and Usyk picked up where they left off, their eyes fixated on each other as met in the centre of the ring.<\/p>\n
Neither man over-committed in a cagey opening round. Fury showboated his way through the first fight but there was more seriousness to his work here. He wobbled Usyk in the closing seconds of the second.<\/p>\n
With an advantage of six inches in height, eight inches in reach and four stone in weight, Fury used his physicality to keep Usyk at range.<\/p>\n
But just as he did in the first fight, Usyk found success targeting Fury’s body.<\/p>\n
Two bruising left hooks landed flush on Fury in the fourth. “Keep it basic. He’s running around – slow it down,” trainer SugarHill Steward told Fury after the fifth.<\/p>\n
An overhand left connected cleanly with Fury’s forehead in the sixth. Fury’s pace dropped and Usyk was heading into his groove.<\/p>\n
Fury found a second wind, however, and edged the ninth. It felt as if it was still all to play for in the championship rounds. <\/p>\n
Model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and actor husband Jason Statham watched from plush ringside seats, alongside a stellar list of boxing royalty including Roberto Duran, Lennox Lewis and Prince Naseem Hamed.<\/p>\n
Usyk unleashed a sublime combination in the 11th. With Fury momentarily hurt, the champion applied the pressure.<\/p>\n
Fury looked the more desperate of the pair as Usyk finished the fight on top. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n