Tyson Fury slammed for claiming Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk won boxing fight because ‘his country is at war’

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA: On a night that was supposed to be a celebration of boxing's heavyweight glory, Tyson Fury's controversial post-fight comments overshadowed Oleksandr Usyk's historic victory to become the undisputed heavyweight champion.

Fury, who lost in a split decision to the Ukrainian fighter on Saturday, May 18, in Saudi Arabia, made the stunning claim that Usyk was awarded the win "because his country is at war," as reported by Daily Mail.

Tyson Fury suggests geopolitical factors behind judges' decision in Oleksandr Usyk fight

The fight, held in Riyadh, ended in a split-decision, with two judges scoring 115-113 and 114-113 in favor of Usyk, while the third judge scored 114-113 for Fury. The clash was a monumental event in the heavyweight division, with Usyk becoming the first undisputed champion of the four-belt era and the first since Lennox Lewis in 1999.

The battle was intense, with Fury seeming to dominate the early rounds before Usyk mounted a powerful comeback. In the ninth round, Usyk's flurry of punches forced the referee to administer a standing count on Fury.

Despite the official decision, Fury insisted that he was the true victor, stating, "I believe I won that fight. I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won the majority of them."

He further suggested that geopolitics influenced the judges' decision. "His country is at war. People are siding with the country at war. Make no mistake, I won that fight in my opinion," Fury remarked.

For Usyk, the night marked a historic achievement. Holding up the Ukrainian flag after the fight, he expressed gratitude towards his team and emphasized the significance of his victory for his family and country.

"Thank you so much to my team. It's a big opportunity for my family, for me, for my country. It's a great time, it's a great day," Usyk exclaimed.

Usyk also confirmed his readiness for a rematch, which is already scheduled for October of this year. "Yes, of course. I am ready for a rematch," he declared, reinforcing his commitment to defend his newly acquired title.

Both fighters displayed mutual respect after the match, with Fury putting his arm around Usyk's shoulders in the ring. Despite his claims of victory, Fury acknowledged the need to move forward.

"We'll go back to our families and I'll see him again in October. We'll go back, rest up. I believe I won the fight but I'm not going to sit and cry and make excuses. We'll run it again in October," Fury expressed.

Tyson Fury faces massive backlash online for his comments on Oleksandr Usyk fight

People were quick to respond to Fury’s recent comments, with many trolling the British boxer.

One user on X commented, "Top tier shamelessness," while another remarked, "When you’re deluded…..oh, and defeated."

Further criticism flooded in, with one user stating, "Congrats to Usyk and this is what Tyson Fury Looks like when he can’t cheat!"

Another user mocked, "Fury's really digging deep for excuses now! Next thing you know, he'll blame gravity for making him fall."

Some comments took aim at Fury's reasoning, with one user remarking, "Only Fury would blame geopolitics when Usyk had him looking like a frat boy 17 beers deep."

Another speculated, "It’s the CTE from all the punches he just recieved. Give him a day or two people he’ll come back."

Amid the backlash, one user expressed disdain, stating, "What a disgusting thing to say. You were looking like Bambi on ice buddy."

Another user added, "The sort of nonsense you might expect from someone who has just been punched in the head for half an hour."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.