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Frank Warren, Tyson Fury’s promoter, has tempered his initial claims of a robbery in the heavyweight championship rematch against Oleksandr Usyk. While maintaining that Fury deserved the victory, Warren now acknowledges the bout was closer than he initially believed.
The rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, saw Fury fall short on the scorecards, with Usyk winning via unanimous decision (116-112 on all cards). Warren initially declared Fury had been “robbed,” but after reviewing the fight on television, his perspective shifted slightly.
“I thought it was a closer fight on TV than what I’ve seen there, but I still think Tyson just won it,” Warren said in an interview with Seconds Out. “Not nicked it, I think it was a close fight, and that’s how I scored it.”
Warren’s main contention lies with the judges’ scorecards, which he feels did not reflect Fury’s performance in the latter rounds.
“I don’t see how one judge didn’t give Tyson a single round for the last seven rounds, that is impossible,” he added. “I watched that back, and I’ve been around a long time, and I’ve seen it, and I don’t know how he got it. Usyk didn’t win the last seven rounds of that fight, that’s for sure.”
Despite the controversial decision, Warren praised the competitiveness between Fury and Usyk, noting that their styles naturally produce tightly contested fights.
“These two are always going to have a close fight,” Warren observed. “The last one was a close fight. That’s their style. That’s how their styles are. Tyson and Usyk are magnificent fighters, they’re brilliant heavyweights, and they will always have a good fight. There’s no doubt about that.”
While Warren’s comments acknowledge the skill and rivalry of both fighters, he remains firm that Fury edged the rematch. The promoter’s remarks echo the contentious debates among fans and analysts about the fight’s outcome and judging.
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