Usyk beats Fury to take undisputed world heavyweight boxing title
OLEKSANDR USYK BEAT TYSON Fury by split decision to win the world’s first undisputed heavyweight championship in 25 years last Sunday (May 18), an unprecedented feat in boxing’s four-belt era.
Britain’s Fury was the early aggressor but Usyk gradually took charge and the ‘Gypsy King’ was saved by the bell in the ninth round before slumping to his first career defeat.
Ukraine’s Usyk, who remains undefeated, joins the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis and Mike Tyson as undisputed heavyweight champion, the first since boxing recognised four major belts in the 2000s.
With the win, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion can legitimately claim to be the best of this heavyweight era, although a rematch expected in October could provide another twist.
“It is a big opportunity for me, for my family, for my country,” said Usyk, 37, who briefly served as a soldier after the Russian invasion.
Fury called it a fantastic fight, before adding, “I believe I won that fight, I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won the majority of them.
“You know his country is at war, so people are siding with the country at war but make no mistake, I won that fight in my opinion and I will be back.”
Two judges scored it for Usyk by scores of 115-112 and 114-113 while the third gave it to Fury 114-113. The victory extended Usyk’s professional record to 22-0. After his first loss, Fury stands at 34-1-1.
Usyk, who adds Fury’s WBC belt to his IBF, WBA and WBO titles, looks set to go down as one of the greats after dominating at amateur, cruiserweight and now the top division.
Britain’s Lennox Lewis was the last man to unify the heavyweight belts – three at the time – after beating Evander Holyfield in 1999.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, leading the war effort against Russia for more than two years, posted on social media: “Ukrainians hit hard! And in the end, all our opponents will be defeated.”