Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) was undisputed at cruiserweight, and now he’s undisputed at heavyweight after defeating Tyson Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) by split decision on Saturday evening at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
One judge had it 114-113 for Fury, which was overruled by two judges, who had it 114-113 and 115-112 for Usyk.
Usyk, 37, is now the second former undisputed cruiserweight champion to become an undisputed champion in the heavyweight division, and third fighter to undisputed in the four-belt era.
This was a very good fight. It appeared Fury had control early in the fight, but things turned around in the ninth round when Usyk landed a left hand that stunned Fury against the ropes. Fury stayed on his feet, but eventually, the ropes held him up. Referee Mark Nelson called it a knockdown. Fury rose gingerly to his feet as the bell ended the stanza.
Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
From there, Usyk controlled the fight as Fury tried to recuperate. In the first eight rounds, Fury outlanded Usyk 115-99, Usyk outlanded Fury 71-42 in Rounds 9-12, so things changed after Round 9.
Despite falling apart late, the 35-year-old Fury felt he did enough to win the fight.
“I believe I won that fight,” Fury said. “I believe he won a few of the rounds. I thought I won a majority of them, and I believe it was a — what can you do — these are the decisions in boxing. We both put on a good fight, the best we could do,” Fury said, “We go back, have a little rest up, spend some time with our families, and get it back on in October.”
Fortunately for Fury, a rematch is tentatively planned for October, and Usyk will be ready.
“Yes, of course. Rematch. I am ready!” he said.
Usyk is tough to beat; he’s the best heavyweight in the world, and like Usyk, we’ll all be ready for the rematch.
In other results:
Cruiserweight: Jai Opetaia (25-0, 19 KOs) UD 12 Mairis Briedis (28-3, 20 KOs), Scores: 117-111 and 116-112 2x. Opetaia wins IBF Cruiserweight World Title & Retains Ring Magazine Cruiserweight Title.
Junior Lightweight: Anthony Cacace (22-1, 8 KOs) TKO 8 Joe Cordina (17-1, 9 KOs), :39. Cacace wins IBF World Title.
Heavyweight: Agit Kabayel (25-0, 17 KOs) KO 7 Frank Sanchez (24-1, 17 KOs), 2:33. WBC Title Eliminator.
