With the win, Usman improved to 20-1-0, and has won 19 fights in a row, including five title defences.

"I am the pound-for-pound best alive right now," he said.

Covington, the former interim welterweight champion, dropped to 16-3-0.

New York State Athletic Commission judges Derek Cleary (49-46), Dave Tirelli (48-47) and Sal D'Amato (48-47) all submitted scorecards in Usman's favor.

Going into the fight, Covington said he had recalibrated his approach and would not fight the same way as he did in their first encounter.

And the beginning of the opening round revealed a more cautious fighter, though as the round progressed, Usman's pressure appeared to force Covington into a defensive posture.

Usman got the first knockdown of the fight late in the second round, and attempted to finish Covington with a flurry of punches before the bell rang.

He started the third round where he left off, but Covington finished the five minutes by having Usman pinned against the cage.

The two spent much of the fourth and fifth rounds exchanging strikes.

Covington staggered Usman with a shot in the fifth, but was unable to put him away.

Australian Associated Press