In the four-belt era of boxing, Oleksandr Usyk achieved an extraordinary achievement by defeating Tyson Fury in a razor-thin split decision to earn the world's first undisputed heavyweight championship in 25 years.
Fury of the United Kingdom started off as the early aggressor, but Usyk steadily gained the upper hand. The bell spared the "Gypsy King" in the ninth round, but on Sunday, he suffered his first career loss.
Fury of the United Kingdom started off as the early aggressor, but Usyk steadily gained the upper hand. The bell spared the "Gypsy King" in the ninth round, but on Sunday, he suffered his first career loss.
It's a really good time. It's a wonderful day, Usyk remarked.
Usyk of Ukraine becomes the first undisputed heavyweight champion since boxing recognized four major belts in the 2000s, joining the ranks of Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, and Mike Tyson.
With the victory, the former unchallenged cruiserweight champion may rightfully call himself the greatest of this generation, yet a rematch scheduled for October might add another dimension.
Lennox Lewis of the UK defeated Evander Holyfield in 1999 to become the final fighter to unify the heavyweight titles, which were three at the time.
Usyk prevailed in the first three rounds before Fury finally found his rhythm in the fourth. The American displayed impressive skills as he began to catch Usyk with strong body blows, but the Ukrainian fought back with multiple searing reminders of his strength.
Few would have been shocked if the referee had stopped the fight in the ninth round due to Usyk's devastating head shots, which reversed the tide in the eighth round and left Fury reeling.
Usyk prevailed in the first three rounds before Fury finally found his rhythm in the fourth. The American displayed impressive skills as he began to catch Usyk with strong body blows, but the Ukrainian fought back with multiple searing reminders of his strength.
Few would have been shocked if the referee had stopped the fight in the ninth round due to Usyk's devastating head shots, which reversed the tide in the eighth round and left Fury reeling.
Usyk scored a knockdown just before the bell spared Fury (34-1-1), hurting him with a left hand before sending him reeling into a corner in the closing moments of the round. After coming dangerously close to being stopped, Fury found it difficult to sustain an attack, and the knockdown proved to be the deciding factor in the outcome.
In the ring following the victory, Usyk fought back tears and stated, "Thank you so much to my team."
In the ring following the victory, Usyk fought back tears and stated, "Thank you so much to my team."
“It’s a big opportunity for me, for my family, for my country. Slava Ukraini!”