Oleksandr Usyk successfully defends heavyweight belt with unanimous decision over Tyson Fury

Oleksandr Usyk remained undefeated when he successfully defended his heavyweight titles with a unanimous decision over Tyson Fury on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Judges Gerardo Martinez, Patrick Morley and Ignacio Robles had identical scorecards in favor of Usyk, 116-112.

Usyk landed 179-of-423 (42%) punches thrown, while Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) landed just 144 of the 509 punches he threw, a 28% clip.

Asked if he agreed with judges scores, Usyk implied that it’s not his place to question, only to box.

“I win, it’s good,” said Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs). “Not my deal. I win. Thank you, God.”

In the closing betting numbers from BetMGM, Usyk closed -145 and Fury was +110.

The highly anticipated rematch from a May bout in which saw Fury suffered his first loss lived up to the hype from the moment the boxers entered the arena.

Per a report on ESPN, Usyk’s team requested the Middle East Professional Boxing Commission during Friday’s rules meeting to mandate that Fury trim his beard ahead of their unified heavyweight championship rematch.

He had a beard as burly as Santa Claus less than a week before Christmas, but the 36-year-old sauntered in unshaven and donning a bright red Christmas-themed robe with Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” accompanying his walk to the ring.

After Fury opened the fight with a rather quick pace and controlled the first two rounds, Usyk responded in the third and fourth rounds by working the body while slipping in occasional power combinations to the head.

Fury landed several big shots in the fifth round, but Usyk’s left hand was the story in the sixth, staggering his bigger and taller opponent twice.

In the second half of the fight, it became apparent that carrying the extra weight was wearing Fury down, as the pace began to catch up to him while Usyk’s calm and patient approach favored him. Usyk's ability to get inside, strike quick and damage Fury with stinging combinations was the difference.

Feeling the pressure, a spirited Fury came out swinging in the 10th, bullying Usyk throughout the round. Usyk held him off at times with a steady jab, while an uppercut from Fury scored late.

Usyk’s speed came to life in the 11th, again, landing blistering combinations to Fury’s head to keep him at bay.

The two traded flurries of punches in the final round, Fury hoping to make one final impression on the judges while Usyk was looking for an exclamation point.

Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, announced on X (formerly Twitter) earlier in the week that an experimental AI judge would also return results. The innovative virtual system has Usyk winning, 118-112.

Fury is now 5-1 in rematches.

Only three belts were on the line this time after the IBF stripped Usyk for not facing its mandatory challenger, Daniel Dubois.

Dubois interrupted Usyk’s postfight interview, snatched the microphone and demanded a rematch from their fight on Aug. 26, 2023. Usyk won by knockout in the ninth round.

“I want my revenge Usyk,” Dubois said. “Well done tonight, but I want my revenge.”

Usyk obliged by telling the powers that be in attendance, “Your Excellency, make me fight with Daniel. Thank you so much.”

In other action on the card:

Serhii Bohachuk defeated Ismael Davis with a sixth-round TKO.

Johnny Fisher defeated Dave Allen with a split decision (95-94, 93-96, 95-94).

Lee McGregor defeated Isaac Lowe via unanimous decision (96-92, 97-91, 97-91).

Peter McGrail outpointed Rhys Edwards with a unanimous decision (96-95, 96-94, 96-94).

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, right, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk compete during their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, right, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk compete during their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, left, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk compete during their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, left, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk compete during their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, right, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk compete during their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, left, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk compete during their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, right, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk compete during their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, right, and world champion Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk, center, stand on stage during the weigh-in for their WBA, WBO, and WBC heavyweight title bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury walks to the ring before facing Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk in their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk celebrates after winning the WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight against Britain's Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk celebrates after winning the WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight against Britain's Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired All-Star first baseman Josh Naylor on Saturday in a trade that sent right-handed pitcher Slade Cecconi to the Cleveland Guardians.

The Guardians also received a competitive balance Round B draft pick in 2025. Cleveland moved quickly to fill the hole left by Naylor, agreeing with veteran free agent Carlos Santana on a one-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

The 27-year-old Naylor made his first All-Star team this season and hit a career-high 31 homers with 108 RBIs. He's been Cleveland's starting first baseman in each of the past three seasons and will become a free agent after the 2025 season.

The Diamondbacks were in the market for a first baseman after Christian Walker signed with the Houston Astros on Friday. Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said Naylor's presence in the middle of the batting order should fit well with Eugenio Suarez, Ketel Marte and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

The 25-year-old Cecconi has spent parts of the past two seasons in the big leagues. He had a 2-7 record with a 6.66 ERA last season, pitching in 20 games, including 13 starts.

Santana spent 10 seasons with Cleveland early his career over two stretches, starting out as a catcher before moving to first. The switch-hitter’s deal is pending a physical, said a person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal wasn't finalized.

Santana was one of the club’s most popular players from 2010-17 before signing as a free agent with Philadelphia. However, his time with the Phillies didn’t go as expected and he re-signed with the Guardians in 2019 for two seasons.

Santana brings leadership and experience to a Cleveland team that won 92 games and ran away with its division last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. The Guardians beat Detroit in the AL Division Series before losing the ALCS to the New York Yankees in five games.

The 38-year-old played for the Minnesota Twins last season, batting .238 with 23 homers and 71 RBIs.

The Naylor trade is the second significant move this winter by the AL Central champions, who dealt Gold Glove second baseman Andrés Giménez to Toronto in a three-team swap. The Guardians also acquired right-hander Luis Ortiz from the Pirates.

Naylor was a solid run producer and protected All-Star José Ramírez in the lineup. But his fielding was often suspect, and the Guardians have some other options they’d like to try going forward at first, including Kyle Manzardo.

Naylor’s departure also means he’ll no longer be teammates with younger brother, Bo, Cleveland’s primary catcher.

AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

FILE - Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Slade Cecconi (43) throws against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning during a baseball game, July 10, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)

FILE - Cleveland Guardians' Josh Naylor watches his RBI single against the New York Yankees during the third inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)