Anthony Joshua disagrees with official score as Tyson Fury beaten by Oleksandr Usyk

Anthony Joshua has given Oleksandr Usyk a slight edge over Tyson Fury in his unofficial scorecard, but only by a single point. Joshua, who was not present at the ringside in Saudi Arabia as he had been for the first fight between his rivals seven months ago, watched from home and ultimately scored the final round a draw, resulting in a final score of 115-114 in favour of the Ukrainian.

By comparison, Usyk earned scorecards of 116-112 from every official on Saturday, with Gerardo Martinez, Pat Morley and Ignacio Robles judging the bout at ringside. His performance solidified his status as an all-time great, and the 37 year old could now aim to become the undisputed champion for the second time by defeating IBF champion Daniel Dubois.

Fury entered the ring weighing 20 stones 1 lb, nearly four stones heavier than Usyk, and immediately took control of the centre of the ring, showing a clear intention to take the fight to his opponent.

Despite being significantly taller than the champion, the Briton was also taking body shots, and by the second round he was being pursued around the ring by Usyk – a recurring theme from their first fight. The pace was set by Usyk, but both fighters were landing punches in an energetic start to the match, with Fury's jab causing issues.

Usyk landed two powerful left hands in the fourth round of a closely contested fight. Fury managed to stagger the Ukrainian with a short left uppercut, despite taking a series of body blows himself.

Unlike their first encounter, which resulted in Fury's first career loss, there was no showboating from the challenger this time around. The fifth round saw Fury at his best, utilising his size and power effectively behind his precise jab, although he took several hits in the sixth, reports the Mirror.

Usyk's relentless pressure continued into the eighth round, where he executed a beautiful sequence of shots, ending the round by cornering Fury against the ropes. The ninth round, which had been a turning point in their May bout, lacked the same drama this time, but Usyk continued to build momentum.

Despite taking some hits himself in the tenth round, Usyk dominated the larger Fury. As the final two rounds approached, it was clear that Fury needed to do something extraordinary to impress the judges. A thrilling final round saw both fighters exchange blows in a display of skill and bravery.

The judges were once again required to decide the winner, and there was no room for dispute as Usyk was declared the clear victor on all cards, maintaining his position as the leading force in the division.