Boxing
'The right person!' - Frank Smith weighs in on Oleksandr Usyk victory in Tyson Fury rematch
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Oleksandr Usyk was "the right person" to win in his rematch with Tyson Fury, says Matchroom CEO Frank Smith, adding that he understands Frank Warren's emotions too.
The Ukrainian star made it back-to-back victories over the Briton at Riyadh Season's Reignited in December, securing a unanimous decision victory at the Kingdom Arena.
It handed Fury a second career loss, following his first defeat to Usyk in May last year, and saw his promoter Warren rail against the result on the scorecards in the aftermath.
Smith, whose Matchroom stable will likely chase a fight with Fury for Anthony Joshua, admits that he felt the superior fighter got the right call in the end in Saudi Arabia though.
"I think so," he told The Stomping Ground. "The issue is everyone has different views as to what the scorecards should be. I felt Oleksandr Usyk deserved to win it.
"It was a great fight, a different fight to the first in many ways, but I thought the right person won on the night. The reality is when they're so close is that they can go either way."
Smith expressed his sympathy for Queensberry boss Warren too, who vocally felt Fury had won in the immediate aftermath before conceding Usyk's victory on reflection.
"It could be a point here or there. If you look at some of those rounds, you could score it either way," he added.
"On the night, it is very different. When you have time to watch it back, and process it. It's going to be a lot more emotional [before that]."
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