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?
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?
Who will Usyk fight next? Joshua and other potential opponents
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set for a rematch later this year after the Ukrainian beat the Britonto become undisputed heavyweight champion on Saturday.
Fury carried the WBC title into Riyadh, while Usyk entered the Saudi city as unified champion, but it was the latterwho left as the division’s first undisputed king in 24 years.
Not since Lennox Lewis in 2000 had a heavyweight held all the major gold, but Usykemulated that feat with a split-decision win over Fury, who was previously undefeated as a professional – like Saturday’s winner.
Fury and Usyk are contracted to fight again, and in an interview published by ESPN last week, Saudi adviser Turki Al-Sheikh revealed 12 and 13 October as the potential dates for the rematch.
Who will Usyk fight next? Anthony Joshua and other potential opponents
The Ukrainian beat Tyson Fury via split decision to become undisputed heavyweight champion on Saturday
Anthony Joshua reacts to Tyson Fury’s defeat to Oleksandr Usyk
Anthony Joshua believes the scorecards went the right way as Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury to become the undisputed heavyweight champion.
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 Fury and Usyk’s heavyweight rival Joshua. The Briton’s reaction was caught by TNT Sports after the final bell and he immediately replied “Usyk” when he was asked who he won the fight.
Anthony Joshua reacts to Tyson Fury’s defeat to Oleksandr Usyk
The undisputed title fight went to the scorecards as Usyk was crowned heavyweight champion of the world
Tyson Fury clarifies claims judges sided with Oleksandr Usyk because of Ukraine war
Tyson Fury suggested “it was what it was” after he appeared to accuse the judges of helping Oleksandr Usyk win their fight because Ukraine is “at war”.
Fury’s effort to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion ended in defeat by split decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The scorecards read 115-112 to Usyk, 114-113 to Usyk, and 114-113 to Fury.
Fury was asked to clarify comments he made in the ring in the “immediate and emotional aftermath” of the decision.
“It was what it was, one of the judges had me winning, two of them didn’t... can’t really say much about it,” he said.
Eddie Hearn reacts to Tyson Fury’s defeat by Oleksandr 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.
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
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