Oleksandr Usyk became boxing’s first four-belt undisputed heavyweight champion with a thrilling split-decision victory over Tyson Fury on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Usyk, who entered with the WBA, IBF, and WBO belts, captured Fury’s WBC title to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era. He also became the lineal heavyweight champion, a title Fury had held since 2015 following an upset victory over Usyk’s countryman, Wladimir Klitschko.
There had not been an undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield in a rematch of all-time greats in November 1999 in Las Vegas.
Halfway around the world — and nearly 25 years later — another undisputed champion in boxing’s glamour division was crowned when Oleksandr Usyk floored Tyson Fury in Round 9 en route to a split decision victory early Sunday at sold-out Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Usyk seized control of the pulsating fight in the ninth round when he came close to finishing Fury after he landed 14 flush shots as the Englishman wobbled around the ring. The last of those punches caused Fury to slump into the ropes, which held him up for the ninth knockdown of his illustrious career.
The Briton survived a standing count and made it to the end of the fight only to lose on a unanimous decision. Usyk won 115-112 and 114-113 on two scorecards while the third judge saw it 114-113 against him.
The decision saw 35-year-old Fury lose for the first time in his 16-year professional career.
A disappointed Fury was adamant he was the better of the two pugilist on the night.
I believe I won the fight, but I’m not going to sit here and cry and make excuses, said Fury, who owned a 39-pound and 6-inch advantage over Usyk. I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won the majority of them. What can you do? We both put on a good fight, the best we could do. … People are siding with the country at war. But make no mistake, I won that fight … and I’ll be back. We’ve got a rematch clause, he said
The wait was well worth it as both men delivered a fight befitting the prize they were competing for. With a rematch planned for later this year, can Fury get his revenge on Usyk?
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Story by: Rabbi Adu Agyei| univers.ug.edu.gh
