Fury vs Usyk LIVE: Fight reaction and undercard results after split decision decides heavyweight thriller
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk produced an undisputed heavyweight classic in Saudi Arabia which split the judges after 12 gripping rounds
Oleksandr Usyk has defeated Tyson Fury by split decision to become the first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in 24 years.
Usyk (22-0) added Fury‘s WBC title to his own WBA, IBF and IBO belts with a spectacular late rally highlighted by a ninth-round knockdown in a back-and-forth bout between two previously unbeaten heavyweight champs. Two judges favored Usyk, 115-112 and 114-113, while the third gave it to Fury, 114-113.
Usyk started quickly, but then had to survive while the confident, charismatic Fury dominated the middle rounds. Usyk rallied in the final rounds, just as the Ukrainian Olympic gold medalist has done so many times in his career, taking control with a dominant eighth round and nearly stopping Fury in the ninth.
Usyk hurt Fury (34-1-1) with a left hand and eventually sent him sprawling into a corner in the final seconds of the round, getting credit for a knockdown right before Fury was saved by the bell. Fury made it to the 10th, but he struggled to mount a consistent attack after nearly getting stopped.
Fury kissed Usyk on the head after the final bell. The fighters are likely to have a rematch in Saudi Arabia in the fall.
Usyk is the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis held the honor for five months in 1999 and 2000. He is also now the lineal heavyweight champion by beating Fury, who beat Wladimir Klitschko to earn that distinction in 2015.
Relive Fury vs Usyk, the undercard results and all the reaction below.
Tyson Fury confirms Oleksandr Usyk has gone to hospital with a suspected broken jaw
"We've just had a fight, as you can see with my face, I'm pretty busted up and he's gone to hospital with a broken jaw and he's busted too,” said Fury.
“We punched the f*** out of each other for 12 rounds. So we're going to go home, eat some food, drink a few beers, spend some family time, walk my dog, go to the tip and me and Frank will talk about what's going to happen in the future."
Tyson Fury reveals date for Oleksandr Usyk rematch
Tyson Fury has confirmed he will activate his rematch clause to fight Oleksandr Usyk for a second time after defeat in the undisputed heavyweight world title fight in Riyadh.
The Briton was outpointed by the Ukrainian by split decision and faced a controversial and crucial count in the ninth round, narrowly escaping a stoppage.
But both fighters possessed the option to fight again should they suffer defeat and Fury immediately confirmed his intent and revealed the month the fight will take place.
Tyson Fury reveals date for Oleksandr Usyk rematch after defeat
The Ukrainian beat the Briton on points in Riyadh to become the first undisputed heavyweight world champion in 24 years
Fury accuses judges of helping Usyk win because Ukraine is ‘at war'
Tyson Fury accused the judges of helping Oleksandr Usyk because the Ukrainian’s nation is “at war”, after Usyk outpointed the Briton to win the undisputed heavyweight titles.
Usyk was a split-decision winner against Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday (18 May). The scorecards read 115-112 to Usyk, 114-113 to Usyk, and 114-113 to Fury.
In the ninth round, Fury was arguably lucky not to see the fight waved off when Usyk hurt him badly. Usyk, 37, had Fury, 35, out on his feet, but the referee gave the Briton a strange standing count – potentially saving him from a knockout loss. Yet Fury feels he was denied a rightful victory.
“His country is at war, so people are siding with the country at war,” Fury said in the ring after his loss – the first defeat of his professional career, while Usyk stayed unbeaten.
More here:
Tyson Fury accuses judges of helping Oleksandr Usyk win because Ukraine is ‘at war’
Usyk beat Fury via split decision in Riyadh, becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 2000
Usyk on what this fight meant to him
Usyk on his victory over Fury: “Since 2008 I was planning for this. It’s not for my win, it’s for my God, my supporters, my country, the Ukrainian soldiers, Ukrainian mother and father, children. I want to go to my home, I want to rest, a break, I want to eat, sleep, kiss my wife.”
Fury vs Usyk: The right result after a close fight?
Between two writers, Indy Sport has scored this 114-113 and 115-112 to Usyk.
The official scorecards: 115-112 to Usyk, 114-113 to Usyk, 114-113 to Fury.
Wladimir Klitschko: ‘This fight showed we, Ukrainians, are fighters – not just in the ring'
Former world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, who lost his titles to Fury in 2015:
“This fight was important and showed we, Ukrainians, are fighters – not just in the ring, but this senseless war with Russia.
“It gives us hope that this senseless war will end, and strength to withhold any opponent – in the boxing ring and the battlefield.”
Punch stats as Usyk edges classic against Fury
Unofficial punch stats:
Punches thrown: Fury 567-482 Usyk
Punches landed: Fury 135-185 Usyk
Punch accuracy: Fury 24%-39% Usyk
Pressure: Fury 28%-64% Usyk
Haye: Fury should have been stopped in ninth round by Usyk
Haye: “If Fury was doing that to Usyk it would have been stopped. The referee stopped him and his opportunity.
“Then gave him 20 seconds to completely recover. It looked really bad from ringside. Even Fury fans said, ‘thanks ref.’”
Frampton: “He beat him from pillar to post!”
Oleksandr Usyk reacts to victory over Tyson Fury
Usyk says: “Since 2008 I was planning for this. It’s not for my win.
“It’s for my God, my supporters, my country, the Ukrainian soldiers, Ukrainian mother and father, childen.
“I want to go to my home, I want to rest, a break, I want to eat, sleep, kiss my wife.”
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