Oleksandr Usyk defeats Tyson Fury and becomes undisputed heavyweight champion | Boxing News

Ukrainian Usyk beat UK’s Fury via split decision to become the first unifying title fighter since 1999.

Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury scoring a split decision to win the first undisputed world heavyweight championship in 25 years, an unprecedented feat in boxing’s four-belt era.

The UK’s Fury was the first aggressor, but Usyk gradually took over and the “Gypsy King” was saved by the bell in the ninth round before falling to his first career defeat on Sunday.

“It’s a great time. It’s a great day,” Usyk said.

Ukrainian Usyk joins the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis and Mike Tyson as the undisputed heavyweight champion, the first since boxing recognized four major belts in the 2000s.

With the victory, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion can rightfully claim to be the best of this era, although a rematch expected in October could provide another upset.

Briton Lennox Lewis was the last man to unify the heavyweight belts – three at the time – after beating Evander Holyfield in 1999.

Usyk had the upper hand in the early rounds before Fury hit his stride in the fourth, engaging in some showmanship as he began to catch Usyk with vicious body shots, but the Ukrainian fought back with several painful reminders of his power.

Usyk turned the tide in the eighth round and few would have been surprised if the referee stopped the fight in the ninth when the Ukrainian’s powerful punches to the head left Fury reeling.

Usyk hurt Fury (34-1-1) with his left hand and eventually sent him into a corner in the final seconds of the round, taking credit for a knockdown just before Fury was saved by the bell. Fury struggled to mount a consistent attack after almost being stopped, and the knockdown ended up being the deciding factor in the decision.

“Thank you so much to my team,” Usyk said as he fought back tears in the ring after the win.

“It’s a great opportunity for me, for my family, for my country. Slava Ukraini!”

Fury wants revenge

Fury kissed Usyk on the head after the final bell. Fury also said he wants the rematch in October.

“I believe I won this fight,” Fury said. “I believe he won a few rounds, but I won most of them, and I believe it was one of those what you can do, one of them… decisions in boxing. We both fought well, the best we can do.

“You know, his country is at war, so people are on the side of a country at war. But make no mistake, I won this fight, in my opinion, and I will be back. I have a rematch clause.”

Usyk landed 41 percent of his 407 punches, while Fury landed just 31.7 percent of his 496 punches, according to CompuBox stats. Usyk threw (260 to 210) and landed (122 to 95) more powerful punches.

Usyk has now joined the elite club of fighters who have held every major world heavyweight championship belt – and he is the first to do so in the four-belt era, which began in 2007. The list of undisputed champions includes Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Floyd Patterson, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and Mike Tyson.

Stars line up at ringside

Wladimir Klitschko was among the legends in attendance, along with Saudi football stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.

Riyadh’s newly built Kingdom Arena, with a capacity for 22,000 people, was packed when Usyk left for his walk at 1:30 am (22:30 GMT), wearing a green Cossack coat and fur hat.

Fury came next, dancing to “Holding out for a Hero” by Barry White and Bonny Tyler in a green sleeveless jacket and baseball cap backwards.

This set the stage for a clash of two fighters with impeccable pedigrees and very different approaches to the sport.

In the co-main event, Australian Jai Opetaia won a unanimous decision over Mairis Briedis of Latvia to win the vacant IBF cruiserweight title. Meanwhile, Irishman Anthony Cacace scored a TKO victory over Joe Cordina of Wales to retain his IBO super featherweight title and claim the IBF belt.