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.
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Fury vs Usyk LIVE: Jai Opetaia vs Mairis Briedis
There’s blood trickling down Briedis’ nose, it’s been a cautious display, but with that dent from the heavy-handed Opetaia, the Latvian may be forced into a few more risks.
And almost immediately, the pair land some big shots, Opetaia shipping some damage too. Blood is now pouring down Briedis’ face.
Round six has finally ignited this contest, Briedis throwing the right hook from the orthodox stance, Opetaia lunging in with a left hook out of his southpaw stance.
Fury vs Usyk LIVE: Jai Opetaia vs Mairis Briedis
Opetaia rocks Briedis briefly, but Briedis springs out of trouble, circling the ring with caution.
Briedis stumbles in, but as he does, almost collapsing, there’s an uppercut to Opetaia.
Andriy Shevchenko is backstage and ready to offer his support for compatriot Usyk tonight.
Fury vs Usyk LIVE: Jai Opetaia vs Mairis Briedis
Opetaia falling short with the lead jab.
What a great shot from Opetaia as Briedis ducked in to attack the body. He took it well though.
Still to catch fire, but you feel Opetaia is waiting for that big shot.
Fury vs Usyk LIVE: Jai Opetaia vs Mairis Briedis
Usyk's hands have been wrapped backstage, not much noise in the dressing room.
A lowkey appearance from Team Fury to check everything is as it should be.
A punishment for Briedis there as he started to open up, a lovely counter from Opetaia.
A huge right from the Australian, Briedis weathers the storm though. A cracking shot though.
Briedis lands one himself, dipping the shoulders and barrelling his way through that range-finder from Opetaia.
Fury vs Usyk LIVE: Jai Opetaia vs Mairis Briedis
Opetaia straight out and he’s controlling the range with his jab. A lot of upper body movement, too.
Briedis is getting low, making it hard for Opetaia to land without reaching down low.
But the southpaw stance of Opetaia is forcing Briedis into a cautious start. A scouting mission from both fighters early on here, nothing in it.
Fury vs Usyk LIVE: Jai Opetaia vs Mairis Briedis
This could be a cracker, Jai Opetaia makes his way to the ring, the vacant IBF cruiserweight world title on the line, with Mairis Briedis standing across the ring.
Neymar is the latest celebrity to join the ringside seats, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Anthony Joshua and Ryan Garcia also in attendance.
Fury vs Usyk LIVE: Anthony Cacace outworks Joe Cordina
Cacace threw 617 punches and landed 282 of them.
That’s almost double Cordina's output of 325 punches thrown and 113 landing.
“It’s a fairytale, he maybe didn’t put the effort in when he should have,” says Frampton.
“Certain people said this kid didn’t have it. I knew he did, I’m delighted for him. I was very nervous, I have a lot of time for Anto. He doesn’t usually say much.”
Fury vs Usyk LIVE: Anthony Cacace takes swipe at Matchroom after claiming world title
“We will see, we’ll sit down as a team, no rush [to move up], what he’s done is fantastic,” says Frank Warren.
“Look what he had in the tank. He just done a professional, top quality job.”
Cacace: “I was an IBO world champion, it was a world title, according to my kids, but now I’m the IBF world champion. To those at Matchroom, Zelfa Barrett, they said I didn’t have a chance, stick that up you, you ain’t getting a chance!”
Fury vs Usyk LIVE: Anthony Cacace TKO8 Joe Cordina - NEW IBF WORLD SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION
He’s done it! Cacace has stopped Cordina, and the NEW WORLD CHAMPION!
At 35 years of age, where did he find that performance? Incredible, punch perfect.
A big upset.
Wild scenes of celebration, Cacace dives through the ropes. Frank Warren is up and hugs his fighter.
Cordina was trapped on the ropes, and while not many landed clean after a heavy hook, so many of those thudding shots battered the gloves and top of the former champion’s head.
Fury vs Usyk LIVE: Joe Cordina vs Anthony Cacace
Absolutely brutal stuff from Cacace.
Uppercuts galore. And Cordina couldn’t stop them, three, four, five uppercuts without a reply. Six bruising rounds for the champion.
“Fury has an advantage of size and reach, Usyk is one of the most talented in the modern history as a technical fight,” Wladimir Klitschko says.
“Look at the matches with AJ, he handled that, I’m crossing my fingers for him.”
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