Tyson Fury has refused to accept his defeat in the rematch against unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, suggesting that the judges bestowed a “Christmas gift” upon his opponent.

The bout, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, saw all three judges score the fight 116-112 in favour of Oleksandr Usyk, marking a significant moment as the Ukrainian secured his second consecutive victory over Tyson Fury.

In the aftermath of the fight, Fury, along with his promoter Frank Warren, maintained that the British fighter had done enough to claim victory.

Fury stated, “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.”

Fury revealed that Warren had scored the fight in his favour, believing he was ahead by at least three or four rounds, while many fans and analysts echoed his sentiments, suggesting he had the upper hand by a margin of at least two rounds.

After the bout, the 36-year-old heavyweight boxer opted not to engage in the inside ring interview, choosing instead to leave the ring and head backstage before addressing the media.

He reflected on the loss with a unique sense of determination, stating, “I’m not going to cry over spilt milk; it’s over now.” However, he conveyed a lingering sense of frustration, admitting, “I’ve been in boxing my whole life but I’ll always feel a little bit hard done by – not a little bit, a lot.”

Frank Warren did not hold back his disappointment regarding the judges’ scorecards, expressing bewilderment over their decisions. In a passionate defence of Fury’s performance, he said, “I’m dumbfounded at how they [judges] scored it. His jabbing was superb; his footwork was superb, and he wasn’t slow. He was very evasive.”

For Usyk, the victory not only extended his professional record to an impressive 23 wins but also bolstered his status as one of the premier boxers of his generation.

In response to Fury’s remarks, Usyk humorously quipped, “Uncle Frank, I think he is blind,” before adding, “If Tyson says it is a Christmas gift, then OK, thank you God, not Tyson. Thank you to my team.”