Usyk, early on Sunday morning, beat the United Kingdom’s Tyson Fury to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world
By Emma Ogbuehi
Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk, early on Sunday morning, beat the United Kingdom’s Tyson Fury to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
At the end of the 12 rounds, the judges’ decision was: 115-112 to Usyk, 114-113 to Fury and 114-113 to Usyk.
With the victory, Usyk has become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the world since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
Agency Reports indicated that on a grand stage and on a legacy-defining night, Briton Fury began well but was given a standing 10 count and saved by the bell after an Usyk onslaught in the ninth round.
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In a tense wait for the scorecards to be read out, Fury appeared convinced of victory before a stoney-faced Usyk broke down in tears when he was confirmed as the winner.
The defeat saw Fury, 35, losing for the first time in a 16-year professional career. He will get an immediate opportunity for revenge with a rematch planned for later this year. Boxing buffs speculate October as the likely date for the rematch.
“I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won the majority,” a defiant Fury said in the ring, BBC Sports reports.
“It was one of the daftest decisions in boxing. I’ll be back.”
Usyk takes the WBC belt from Fury, to add to his WBA, WBO and IBF collection.
The 37-year-old remains unbeaten and is the first boxer in almost 25 years to stand tall as the sport’s sole heavyweight world champion.
“Thank you so much to my team. It’s a big opportunity for my family, for me, for my country. It’s a great time, it’s a great day,” Usyk said.
“Yes, of course. I am ready for a rematch.”