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.
Usyk and the crucial moment that sparked stunning comeback versus Fury
For the boxing monarchists craving one clear ruler in the sport’s glamour division, the last 24 years crept by with a languid cruelty. And a long quarter-century, an epoch of waiting, led to a long night in Riyadh – a city in the sand, on a small stretch of society in the desert. At least this night brought catharsis. At least, and at last, it brought boxing a new undisputed heavyweight champion.
Twenty-five years after Lennox Lewis earned a permanent place in history – on another strip of desert, no less – Oleksandr Usyk was crowned king.
He stood beside Tyson Fury, his opponent and now perennial partner, both held up by breathless anticipation, their sweat unsure whether to cling to torn faces or slip down dented bodies. Yet the decision that really mattered had already been made by the judges, and it had gone in Usyk’s favour – barely, but correctly: 115-112, 113-114, 114-113.
Report by Alex Pattle in Riyadh
Usyk and the crucial moment that sparked comeback to beat Fury and seal destiny
Fury was forced to take a count in the ninth round of a classic, as Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 24 years
Oleksandr Usyk cements status as true legend – does he need to take the Tyson Fury rematch?
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk fought to a bloody, exhausted and brutal standstill in a battle for far more than the various championship belts they paraded at the end.
In the hot Saudi Arabian night, Usyk needed help to raise his weary arms in victory when he was given a slim split decision; there was then an unholy scuffle by men in suits to drape their belts across his blood-stained body. It had been 12 rounds of craft and brutality, desperate at times and packed with unforgettable moments. The men from the sanctioning bodies should have stood their ground and let the great man parade.
Fury believed he had done enough, Usyk could barely talk, but there was no abuse of power in that Riyadh ring, just a spectacle that will live for a long, long time in the memories of every witness. They had not celebrated at the final bell, just embraced, hugged, and Fury planted several tender kisses on Usyk’s head.
By Steve Bunce in Riyadh
Usyk cements status as true legend – does he need to take the Tyson Fury rematch?
The unbeaten Ukrainian is an Olympic champion and one of just three men to be undisputed at two weights. His legacy is beyond secure... so should he face Fury again, or just walk away?
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.
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.
“I believe I won that fight, I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won the majority of them,” Fury added.
“His country is at war, so people are siding with the country at war. Make no mistake, I won that fight in my opinion.
“I’ve had a split decision loss with a little man. Good luck and God bless you.
“I want to thank God. We fought a good fight for the fans. I always say it’s about getting paid and getting laid and we did that.
“I want to thank Oleksandr for the good fight. It was a close fight. I thought I’d done enough, but I’m not a judge. I can’t judge a fight while I’m boxing in it.”
Oleksandr Usyk delivers emotional speech for father
An emotional Oleksandr Usyk delivered a speech for his father, who passed away in 2012, after becoming undisputed world heavyweight champion with victory over Tyson Fury.
“I was writing gratitude to the lord, I’m thankful that you are here and giving me the opportunity.
“I know you are leading me the way that you consider is better for me. And if I really deserve this, please grant me this victory. I am not the principal, you are, this is all for you and in your glory.”
Oleksandr Usyk has ‘no problem’ after being denied knockout against Tyson Fury
“No knockout, no problem, but the 12th round was a big drama,” Usyk says, before dismissing the potential for Tyson Fury to avoid a rematch and fight Anthony Joshua instead.
“I don’t think about boxing now. Nine months I work. I missed my son and daughter. I missed all my family. Family holidays.
“Training, training, training. My focus was on this fight. Now, I’m happy. I want to go back home, go to church and pray.
“I feel good. A lot of people prayed for me. I love you. I’m very happy.
“My people will be very happy. It’s a big win, not only for me but it’s a big win for my country and for the soldiers who now defend my country.
“Thank you so much to my team. It’s a big opportunity for my family, for me, for my country. It’s a great time, it’s a great day.”
Usyk promoter maintains referee ‘stole’ victory in controversial ninth round
Alex Krassyuk maintains referee Mark Nelson “stole” victory from Oleksandr Usyk in the ninth round.
“He had to win in the ninth, the referee stole victory,” said Krassyuk, Usyk’s promoter.
“How can you be happy with the scorecards today? Impossible. 7-5 minimum to Usyk.
“Minus one point for Fury and the knockdown.
“I’m exhausted, I was backing Usyk the whole fight. I hope to see more in the rematch.
“No disrespect to the referee, I think he stopped the KO in the ninth. It was a tremendous performance, something unbelievable.”
Oleksandr Usyk details sacrifices he made to prepare for Tyson Fury title fight
Oleksandr Usyk outlined the sacrifices he made to prepare for his fight against Tyson Fury after becoming the new undisputed world heavyweight champion.
Usyk secured a split decision victory, winning 115-112 and 114-113 on two scorecards while the third judge saw it 114-113 for Fury.
“Nine months I worked. I missed new year, I missed my son’s birthday... I missed my daughter’s birthday,” the Ukrainian told reporters in Riyadh after the fight.
“I missed family holidays, all the time [I was] training, training, training. My focus was on this fight.”
Eddie Hearn reacts to Tyson Fury’s defeat by Usyk: ‘He was absolutely gone!’
Eddie Hearn has said “the right man won” after Oleksandr Usyk earned a split-decision victory over Tyson Fury on Saturday.
Usyk beat Fury 115-112, 113-114, 114-111 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 2000.
The result saw Usyk, 37, add to his undisputed cruiserweight triumph and Olympic gold medal, while keeping the Ukrainian unbeaten. Meanwhile, 35-year-old Fury suffered his first professional loss.
And the scorecards went the right way, according to Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn, who said: “I thought Usyk won the fight.
“I thought it was close. I struggled to give Usyk any of the first six [rounds]. I thought Fury was in control and looked fantastic in seven, eight. Nine was obviously massive, how he survived I don’t know.”
Eddie Hearn reacts to Tyson Fury’s defeat by Usyk: ‘He was absolutely gone!’
Usyk outpointed Fury to become undisputed heavyweight champion, but the fight could have been stopped when the Briton was hurt in round nine
Tyson Fury reveals date for Oleksandr Usyk rematch after defeat
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.
“I won that fight in my opinion,” Fury said. “I think he won a few of those rounds but I won the majority of them.
“His country is at war, so people are siding with the country at war.
“We go back to our families and we run it back in October. For sure, we’ll rest up, then get back on it in October, I thought I won the fight but I’m not going to cry and make excuses.”
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 vs Usyk official scorecards: Did the judges get it right in Riyadh?
Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury via split decision on Saturday, handing the Briton the first loss of his professional career and becoming undisputed heavyweight champion.
The scorecards in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, read 115-112 to Usyk, 114-113 to Fury, and 114-113 to Usyk. The first scorecard belonged to Manuel Oliver Palomo, the second was Craig Metcalfe’s, and the third was Mike Fitzgerald’s.
Those scores resulted in a victory for the unbeaten Usyk, who became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 24 years. But which of those scorecards, if any, was accurate?
Below are the official, round-by-round scorecards from the judges, followed by a detailed breakdown of how Indy Sport scored the bout from ringside at the Kingdom Arena...
Fury vs Usyk official scorecards: Did the judges get it right in Riyadh?
Usyk beat Fury via split decision – 115-112, 113-114, 114-113 – but did the judges get it right?
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