TYSON FURY could not believe he had suffered defeat when all three judges gave last night’s fight to Oleksandr Usyk.
But a body language expert claims the writing was on the wall for the Gypsy King during the bout thanks to a “chilling gesture”.
The judges all had it 116-112 to the unbeaten Ukrainian, who defended his WBA (Super), WBO, WBC and The Ring heavyweight world titles with the unanimous points decision.
Usyk, 37, enjoyed a far better success rate by landing more punches from fewer thrown.
And it was the way he seemed to get better, faster and stronger as the rounds went on that impressed the judges and fans alike.
On the other hand, though, an exhausted Fury was fading as he struggled to dig deep in the latter stages and – despite his protests – could not have any genuine complaints when the result went against him.
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And body language guru Judi James reckons his lack of desire was a “red flag” and cause for concern.
James told BetUK: “There was one key gesture though that seemed to signal a motivational glitch or problem and which acted as a red flag in terms of his chances of winning this fight.
“A very chilling gesture of the puffing out of air as he got down to the business of the fight suggested he just wanted to get it over with, whereas successful boxers tend to look excited by and longing for the fight itself.
“Some of the best boxers have approached their fights looking like dogs pulling to get off the leash and get stuck in.”
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The early rounds were very even but Usyk pulled away as the fight went on and outboxed his opponent.
When Usyk’s hand was raised and Fury, 36, saw the scorecards, he stormed out of the ring and refused to do an interview in the immediate aftermath.
He did, though, speak to the media in a press conference, where he slammed the decision as a “Christmas gift” to Usyk – before bizarrely going on an X-rated rant about computers and even electric cars in response to the AI judge scoring the fight 118-112.
But his behaviour had more alarm bells ringing for James.
She added: “Fury’s body language at this press conference suggested anger and indignation but there was also a display of vulnerability and an almost childlike sadness and bewilderment.
“He began by posing as a winner, hanging his jacket on the back of Frank Warren’s chair in a gesture of territorial marking and then raising both arms in the air with his hands curled into fists to take the applause from the journalists.
“The way he then rubbed his nose in a cut-off gesture made the victory displays look like acted bravado though and he stared at the press with wide, rounded eyes from a battered face while his deep sighs registered sadness.
“His ‘I won that fight’ came with a smacking of the lips and then a lip clamp to suggest he’d hear no argument.
“But then the hurt began to show. Fury rocked in his chair in a self-comfort ritual and in a micro-gesture of pain he shook his head from side to side, rubbed his mouth and closed his eyes in a wince.”
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James continued: “His ‘It is what it is’ sounded like a verbal shrug but his eyes began to look tearful as he held his hand over his moustache and mouth before wiping his nose in an agitated way and performing a sickly grin.
“His pose started to make him look like a small child and his shoulders hunched upward while both his hands clutched at his drinks can. He rocked harder in his chair as he said he was ‘going to go home to have a good Christmas’.
“Then his head dropped and his face became hidden by the shadow of the brim of his cap. When his eyes became visible they looked tearful.
“He popped his gum like a kid and then let rip in terms of his anger, aiming it at ‘computers’ and, randomly, ‘electric cars’.
“He refused to talk about his future here, sticking with plans for Christmas alone and pushing any decisions into the New Year.”
When specifically asked about retirement plans and whether fans can expect to see him in the ring again, Fury remained cryptic.
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He said: “You might do, you might not do. Who knows?
“We’ll talk about that next year.”
Fury vs Usyk 2 round by round: How SunSport scored the controversial heavyweight thriller
OLEKSANDR USYK took another controversial decision over Tyson Fury to regain his heavyweight throne.
Seven months on from their split-decision thriller, this time the scorecards were unanimous 116-112 all in Usyk’s favour.
The Gypsy King stormed out of the ring as his promoter Frank Warren was left stunned by the cards.
Here’s how SunSport’s Wally Downes scored the fight…
Round 1
The rules were ignored and Fury arrived at 11:15pm local time with a beard that would make Brian Blessed’s chops feel naked.
If we thought his face fuzz looked overgrown, we were stunned to see the size of his belly when the cameras caught him topless in his dressing room.
His red shorts were so high that you couldn’t even see much of his gut, an inch higher and the 20st beast would have had the option of tucking his nipples down there too.
Fury tried to intimidate Usyk with the final face-off, widening his eyes like a monster but the champ remained ice cold.
They swapped jabs and fenced with their lead hands. Usyk drove left hands into his wobbling belly and then clipped him with a head shot to snatch the opener. Usyk.
Round 2
Usyk lands a scoring one-two to the head as soon as the session starts but then returns to the body and lands lefts, one even makes Fury stumble.
But the Gypsy King lands a treble-jab and then a meaty right hand to take the round.
Still no signs of the body blows and uppercuts that won him the middle rounds of the May fight. Fury
Round 3
Three times Usyk scores with a jab to the body and left hand upstairs.
Fury struggles to deal with the pressure. Fury lands a little check hook and even tries the southpaw stance.
But all his threats to skin and cook the bog-eyed rat or ugly rabbit prove empty. Usyk.
Round 4
Fury makes a bright start with a chopped right hand.
Bit Usyk almost whacks his whiskers off with two left hands that score well.
But Fury pings back with a big right hand that forces Usyk back.
Then that uppercut returns and cuts through Usyk’s guard. Draw.
Round 5
Fury takes control instantly when a right hand is the perfect start to the session
Then the Brit gets warned for rabbit punches as he bids to bully the champ.
Usyk is then walked into a lead left uppercut and then he starts shipping body blows. Usyk scuttles off and has to recover. Fury.
Round 6
Fury in trouble. The challenger’s bloated body starts to sweat and Usyk keeps targeting it with his power-punch left.
Then he goes head hunting and clips Fury’s skull.
The Morecambe giant is buzzed and worried, his head got rocked backwards. He hides the rest of the round. Usyk
Round 7
A quiet round only really features a crisp Fury one-two and a single Usyk left. Draw.
Round 8
A one-two-hook works for Usyk as he pushes all of the pace an pressure and Fury tries to hide his 20st target.
An accidental clash of heads thankfully leaves no cuts.
Fury does launch a limp attack but Usyk smiles back and shakes his shaven head. Usyk.
Round 9
Fury starts to tire, he has so much timber to lug around and lumberjack Usyk loves chopping him down.
He’s too big to dance and rub and counter.
He is playing super-fit Usyk’s game. Usyk.
Round 10
Fury lands a rare uppercut and attacks Usyk’s body. He takes the centre of the ring but then eats a couple of shots.
Fury tries to hold and lean and sap at Usyk’s engine. But he is punished with a left to the cheek.
Big left from Uysk lands and scatters Fury sweat beads off his head.
But Fury cracks back with an uppercut. But Usyk’s pressure and punches win in. Usyk.
Round 11
These could well be the deciding rounds. Usyk is busier, Fury throws an uppercut but it only grazes his guard.
Fury walks onto a tippy-tappy combination but then two serious shots. The wind is coming out of his giant red sails.
Usyk is relentless and bouncing and prodding and punching and Fury is 20st and flagging. Usyk
Round 12
Fury starts like a man who knows he needs at least a lockdown but that helps Usyk counter him.
A combo of three straight punches score for the Ukraine icon.
But Fury keeps swinging and slashing and pulling up the shorts that slip down his back and love handles from all the sweat Usyk has drained out of him.
With a section of the ungrateful crowd booing and whistling they slug it out for the final ten seconds finish. Usyk
SunSport’s scorecards: Usyk 118-112 Fury.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
