Oleksandr Usyk emerged victorious over Tyson Fury, dealing the “Gypsy King” his inaugural defeat in the realm of professional boxing in the early hours of Sunday.
This triumph solidifies Usyk’s status as the premier undisputed heavyweight champion in a span of 25 years.
The intense showdown unfolded at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, witnessing Oleksandr Usyk sending Fury to the canvas in the ninth round, ultimately clinching a split decision triumph with judges’ scores of 115-112, 114-113 in his favor, and one judge ruling 114-113 in favor of Fury.
Oleksandr Usyk‘s win signifies the initial occasion in which all four major heavyweight belts (WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO) have been harmonized since Lennox Lewis’ victory over Evander Holyfield in 1999
This victory further cements Usyk’s reputation as a dual-weight undisputed champion, having previously dominated the cruiserweight scene.
The match commenced with both contenders tactically exchanging jabs, with Usyk delivering a precise backhand in the initial round.
Despite Fury’s verbal provocations, Usyk’s accurate punches gradually started to impact the bout. By the ninth round, Usyk’s sustained pressure yielded results as he sent Fury crashing down, leaving him struggling to remain upright with the assistance of the ropes.
Although Fury posed certain challenges in the earlier stages, they proved insufficient to sway the judges, with Usyk’s late rally and ninth-round knockdown proving pivotal.
During the subsequent post-fight media briefing, Usyk expressed his gratitude to his fans and homeland for their unwavering support.
In contrast, Fury vowed a return, revealing the existence of a rematch clause in the contract.
The fighters are scheduled to face off once more on either October 12 or 13 of the current year.
