Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion for nearly a quarter of a century in the early hours of Sunday morning in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The unbeaten Ukrainian emerged the victor from a 12-round battle with a bloodied and battered Fury to add the WBC to his WBO, WBA and IBF crowns — the first time in history any heavyweight has held all four titles in the four-belt era.
Usyk, who now moves to a perfect 22-0 for his career, came out ahead via a split decision 115-112, 113-114 and 114-113 on the judges’ scorecards.
“I feel good. A lot of people prayed for me, I love you. I’m very happy,” a jubilant Usyk said surrounded by his team in the ring at the Kingdom Arena.
The defeat, a first as a professional for Fury, drops him to 34-1-1.
The two now look set for a rematch later in the year — as per the pre-fight contract — with Fury claiming in the immediate aftermath he won the bout.
“I believe I won that fight,” he said. “I believe he won a few rounds but I won more of them.
“Make no mistake I won that fight and I’ll be back. We go back to our families and we run it back in October. I’m not going to sit here and cry and make excuses.”
Not since Lennox Lewis in 2000 had the premier weight division seen an undisputed champion with Usyk now adding his name to the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield in the most exclusive club in the sport.
Usyk could have ended the fight in the ninth as a powerful left and a barrage of shots sent Fury, already wearing the marks of a bruising encounter across his face, reeling backwards. Only a combination of the ropes, referee Mark Nelson and the end-of-round bell saved him from an early stoppage.
The opening stages were Fury’s, the Brit using his superior height and reach to keep Usyk, the more aggressive and prolific thrower of punches of the two, largely out of range.
But just when Fury looked to have taken control of the contest, Usyk roared back with a little over three to go, connecting with a flurry and forcing Fury to face a referee’s count for only the eighth time in his career.
Both fighters showed the mental and physical durability that have made them champions to go the distance, however, with Usyk edging the decision to hand Fury a first defeat since the amateur ranks.
“My people will be very happy I think. It’s a big win, not only for me, it’s a big win for my country, for soldiers who now defend my country,” Usyk said.
“I think my father now is watching over me and is very happy. Dad, I love you. I can, you told me I can.”
(Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
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