Oleksandr Usyk has defeated Tyson Fury by split decision to become the first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in 24 years.
Usyk (22-0) added Fury‘s WBC title to his own WBA, IBF and IBO belts with a spectacular late rally highlighted by a ninth-round knockdown in a back-and-forth bout between two previously unbeaten heavyweight champs. Two judges favored Usyk, 115-112 and 114-113, while the third gave it to Fury, 114-113.
Usyk started quickly, but then had to survive while the confident, charismatic Fury dominated the middle rounds. Usyk rallied in the final rounds, just as the Ukrainian Olympic gold medalist has done so many times in his career, taking control with a dominant eighth round and nearly stopping Fury in the ninth.
Usyk hurt Fury (34-1-1) with a left hand and eventually sent him sprawling into a corner in the final seconds of the round, getting credit for a knockdown right before Fury was saved by the bell. Fury made it to the 10th, but he struggled to mount a consistent attack after nearly getting stopped.
Fury kissed Usyk on the head after the final bell. The fighters are likely to have a rematch in Saudi Arabia in the fall.
Usyk is the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis held the honor for five months in 1999 and 2000. He is also now the lineal heavyweight champion by beating Fury, who beat Wladimir Klitschko to earn that distinction in 2015.
Relive Fury vs Usyk, the undercard results and all the reaction below.
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Is Oleksandr Usyk pound-by-pound No 1 in the world?
Terence Crawford has made a case for Oleksandr Usyk to be the pound-for-pound No 1 fighter in the world.
Usually heavyweights do not appear on the mythical list of the sport’s best fighters, but with a previous reign at cruiserweight, Crawford has tipped up Usyk to top the rankings.
“Man y’all better put some respect on Usyk,” said the American.
“He is definitely a candidate for No 1 P4P fighter in the world. I’m no hater. He beat the man that beat the man in a bigger division, giving what he’s already done. Salute brother!”
Jack Rathborn19 May 2024 06:40
Lennox Lewis praises Oleksandr Usyk after becoming undisputed champion
Lennox Lewis said: “His heavyweight journey is still being written but I don’t think ANYONE can take away from his INCREDIBLE accomplishments.
“Gold medal. Undisputed cruiserweight champ and now undisputed heavyweight champ? Definitely puts him rare air.
“Welcome to the club!”
Jack Rathborn19 May 2024 06:10
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk official scorecards revealed
Jack Rathborn19 May 2024 05:40
Oleksandr Usyk taken to hospital after suffering suspected ‘broken jaw’ against Tyson Fury
Oleksandr Usyk has gone to hospital with a suspected broken jaw in the immediate aftermath of his stunning victory over Tyson Fury.
Usyk outpointed Fury in Riyadh to become the first undisputed heavyweight world champion in 24 years, triumphing by split decision on the judges’ scorecards.
But Usyk was rushed away from the Kingdom Arena for medical attention with Fury revealing at the post-fight press conference that his rival has suffered a “broken jaw”.
Oleksandr Usyk taken to hospital after suffering ‘broken jaw’ against Tyson Fury
The Ukrainian did not attend his post-fight press conference after outpointing the Briton in Riyadh to become the first undisputed heavyweight world champion in 24 years
Jack Rathborn19 May 2024 05:10
Tyson Fury reveals lessons learned for Oleksandr Usyk rematch
"I don't know what's going to happen. I think I need to do more of the same. Keep my defence a bit tighter. Be a bit more focused.
“Not so much messing around, I was having fun in there. I thought I was bossing the fight.
“I hit him both sides of the body, crack, crack.”
Jack Rathborn19 May 2024 04:40
Tyson Fury not surprised by Oleksandr Usyk
“I knew he was a good boxer coming into it, he didn't surprise me, we had a long training camp, a couple of training camps.
“I believe I was the best I could have been. I don’t think I could have done better.
“If they had said to me, ‘look you’re down in the last two rounds,’ I could have tried to get him out of there as well.”
Jack Rathborn19 May 2024 04:10
Jack Rathborn19 May 2024 03:40
Tyson Fury insists he won five of the first six rounds against Oleksandr Usyk
“First six rounds, maybe he nicked one of the rounds, going forward I thought I won a few of the last rounds too. Say I won five of the first six and the next six I won a few as well, look, it was close,” Fury says when analysing how he lost the fight. “I can’t complain about it.”
Jack Rathborn19 May 2024 03:10
Tyson Fury reveals 12th round regret after losing split decision
“It was a close fight, you know, I thought I did enough, I’m not a judge. I can’t judge it while I’m boxing.
“If they said to me in the last round, ‘you are down, go out and try and finish him’, I would have done that, but everybody in the corner thought I was up. All I had to do was keep boxing and I thought I’d get it.
“It was what it was. I was having a lot of fun. He’s a good fighter. It was a good fight.”
Jack Rathborn19 May 2024 02:40
Who will Usyk fight next? Anthony Joshua and other potential opponents
Who is next for Usyk? Fury again? A trilogy bout with Anthony Joshua?
Or one of the other top names at heavyweight?
More here:
Who will Usyk fight next? Anthony Joshua and other potential opponents
The Ukrainian beat Tyson Fury via split decision to become undisputed heavyweight champion on Saturday
Alex Pattle19 May 2024 02:22
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