Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk LIVE!
Oleksandr Usyk is celebrating a historic night in Saudi Arabia after beating Tyson Fury to become boxing’s first undisputed heavyweight champion for 25 years. The Ukrainian deservedly came out on top in a captivating main event at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena, starting extremely well and then weathering a Fury comeback in the middle rounds before almost stopping his long-time rival in the ninth and eventually taking a split decision on the judges’ scorecards.
Two had the bout 115-112 and 114-113 in favour of Usyk, the first undisputed heavyweight king since Lennox Lewis in 1999 and the very first of the four-belt era who also previously reigned as the first four-belt undisputed cruiserweight champion. Another judge controversially scored the bout 114-113 in favour of Fury, who lost his WBC belt in a first professional defeat as he plots swift revenge in a contracted rematch that is expected to take place in October.
We also saw Joe Cordina stunned by Anthony Cacace on Saturday night to lose his IBF super-featherweight title in a first career loss of his own, while Jai Opetaia outlasted Mairis Briedis to regain the IBF cruiserweight belt. Moses Itauma and Mark Chamberlain both recorded vicious early knockouts, while Agit Kabayel stopped the previously unbeaten Frank Sanchez and Sergey Kovalev's return ended in disappointing defeat by Robin Safar. Follow Fury vs Usyk reaction live below!
Fury vs Usyk latest news
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Fury on triggering immediate rematch clause
In-ring answer
“Yeah, for sure [immediate rematch]. We go back, have a little rest up and spend some time with our families and get it back on in October.
“I believe I won the fight, but I’m not going to sit here and cry and make excuses. It was a good fight.”
Press conference answer
“We’ve just had a fight. If you can see my face, I’m pretty busted up and he’s [Usyk] gone to the hospital with a broken jaw. He’s busted too.
“We punched f**k out of each other for 12 rounds there, so we’re going to go home, eat some food, drink a few beers, spend some family time, walk the dog, go to the tip, and me and Frank [Warren] will talk about what’s going to happen in the future.”
Much more non-committal from Fury in the press conference...
Terence Crawford: Oleksandr Usyk in mix for pound-for-pound No1
Is Oleksandr Usyk now boxing’s real pound-for-pound No1?
One of his rivals for that position, Terence Crawford, certainly thinks he has a huge case.
Usyk over Bud and Inoue now?
Lennox Lewis welcomes Oleksandr Usyk to undisputed heavyweight club
Lennox Lewis welcomes Oleksandr Usyk to the undisputed heavyweights club.
A shame his reign will be similarly short-lived, with the IBF title expected to be taken away soon and put on the line when mandatories Filip Hrgovic and Daniel Dubois go head to head on the Matchroom vs Queensbury 5v5 card back in Riyadh on June 1.
It means the likely rematch in October won’t be for undisputed either.
Those all-important scorecards in full.
Always fascinating to see and bound to divide opinion!
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk
Round 9
Having taken control after the first three rounds, Fury is starting to look ragged and dishevelled here with a bloodied and marked-up face.
FURY IS IN HUGE TROUBLE IN THE NINTH AS HE’S BATTERED BY USYK!
FURY IS BLASTED AROUND THE RING AND THE ROPES JUST ABOUT KEEP HIM UP, LEADING TO A REFEREE’S COUNT!
HE’S SAVED BY THE BELL! WOW! WHAT A ROUND FROM USYK!
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk
I think this is 4-4 though eight, though that seventh is a wildcard and was so, so close.
Could be 5-3 Usyk, others have Fury ahead... so difficult to score at times.
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk
Round 7
A nice left from Usyk at the start of the seventh, but he’s later buzzed again by another solid right hand.
A strong finish to the round from Usyk, who lands a long left and an uppercut as both men look to fire.
Enough to shade what could be a crucial round? Probably not in truth.
Those hard-to-score rounds are going to be so important to the outcome of this.
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk
Round 4
Fury is growing in confidence midway through the fourth, stepping in again and finding a few useful and solid combinations.
An uppercut goes in and there’s more and more showboating from the Gypsy King, who gets stuck in the corner momentarily as Usyk drives to the body.
Good flurries from both men as we tick down towards the end of the round.
Fury’s first round on the board for me, though I know some have given him either the second or third.
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk
3-0 to Usyk though three? Or 2-1?
Fury needs to up it here, he can’t afford to let the first half of this fight slip away.
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk
Round 2
The ultra-skilled and slick Usyk, on the front foot, has settled the better here, walking down Fury around the ring and finding those angles that he is so, so good at creating.
Fury has fired out some good responses though, countering brilliantly before throwing a lovely shot off the ropes that lands clean.
That was an Usyk round until Fury got to grips with it in the last 30 seconds or so.
I’d still have the Ukrainian 2-0 up, though can understand if that one went to Fury.