Oleksandr Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years with an historic win over Tyson Fury.
In a fight for the ages, Usyk dropped Fury in the ninth round and left the Brit staggering around the ring on unsteady legs en route to his split decision victory.
At the end of the fight, the scorecards read 115-112 and 114-113 in the Ukrainian’s favour while the third judge gave it to Fury at 114-113 as the Brit fell to defeat for the first time.
The last time all the belts were on the line in boxing’s glamour division, Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield for the distinction over the distance in November 1999 when their were three belts up for grabs.
But at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Usyk made history by picking up the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO titles to become the inaugural undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era in what will go down as an all-time classic.
From the off, a cagey opener ensued as both men felt out one another, prodding with their jabs and feinting.
READ MORE ON FURY VS USYK
The best shot of the round was landed by Usyk who caught Fury with a good backhand that snapped back ‘The Gypsy King’s’ head.
Another pitch-perfect, looping left-hand landed early in the second round.
Fury taunted and jeered but there was nothing funny about the scoring punches he was eating.
The Brit landed his first meaningful shot to the body towards the end of the round, a sweeping bolo punch that was swiftly followed by a shovel uppercut.
5
5
In the lead-up to fight night, Usyk insisted ‘he would not leave Fury alone’ and he certainly didn’t.
The Ukrainian, who has been criticised in the past for starting too slowly, got off to a quick start and continually forced Fury onto his heels.
Fury responded by holding and leaning on Usyk in the hopes of draining his smaller foe.
In round four, Fury started to get into his rhythm and began to land a meaty right hand to the body after touching Usyk upstairs with his jab.
Taunting and jeering with every step, a confident Fury closed out his best round of the fight in style.
Heading into round five, there was a small nick above Usyk’s eye, likely caused by a clash of heads in the previous frame.
Fury continued investing to the body and kept Usyk guessing by whipping a right hand to the body and then to the head.
5
After a bright start, Usyk was left struggling to find the target with the left hand that he had found such success with early doors.
In round six, Fury landed a clean right uppercut that wobbled Usyk. He then followed up with a vicious flurry to the body before a deflated Usyk made his way back to his stool.
Heading into the second half of the fight, Usyk began to find a second wind and started to find a home for his overhand left once again.
At the end of the eighth, there was a lot of swelling under Fury’s right eye.
Suddenly the tables had turned.
Usyk swarmed Fury in the ninth and hurt him badly with a flurry of shots as the Mancunian was left staggering all over the ring.
Held up by the ropes, a count was administered but Fury made his way to his feet to see out the round.
Usyk continued pouring on the pressure in the 10th while Fury looked to stay out of trouble.
In the championship rounds, the bounce was back in Fury’s step as he looked to have got his senses back together.
Heading into the final round, it was hard to split the heavyweight titans although the knockdown had Usyk ahead with the DAZN broadcast team.
Fury landed a good straight right mid-way through the frame that stunned Usyk but the Brit let him off the hook.
Usyk came back firing and would edge the nip-and-tuck affair with the judges.
Speaking after the fight, Usyk who is now a two-weight undisputed champion having previously reigned supreme at cruiserweight, took to the mic.
5
“Since 2008 I was planning for this. It’s not for my win,” he said.
“It’s for my God, my supporters, my country, the Ukrainian soldiers, Ukrainian mother and father, children.
“I want to go to my home, I want to rest, a break, I want to eat, sleep, kiss my wife.”
Fury was then passed the mic and added: “I believe I won that fight – I believe he won a few of the rounds but I won the majority of them.
“What can you do? It’s one of the decisions in boxing. We both put on a good fight. Best we could do…
“I’ll be back, I’ve got a rematch clause.
“We go back. Have a little rest up, spend some time with my family and we go again in October.”
The pair are now set to run it back on October 12/13 as part of the two-way rematch clause in their contracts.
Boxing WhatsApp channel
