Oleksandr Usyk, the first undisputed world heavyweight champion of this century, beat Tyson Fury by split decision in a high-profile fight early on Sunday Fury ). Usyk, who added Fury’s WBC title to the IBF, WBA and WBO belts he already holds, deservedly received rulings of 115-112 from the first judge and 114-113 from the third judge. The center scoreboard gave Fury the win 114-113, but he was nearly knocked out in the ninth round when he staggered drunkenly across the ring. He stood and counted to eight, and the bell saved him.
The momentum of an engaging, technical (albeit brutal) fight shifted when Usyk dominated in the eighth round. Right uppercut and left cross nailed Fury. Then, suddenly filled with new conviction, Usyk hit Fury with a shuddering left hand. Blood began to pour from Fury’s nose, and there were bruises around his left eye.
Usyk put pressure on him in the ninth, striking out 14 times in a row, which was incredible. Fury staggered under the attack, swaying and stumbling helplessly, his eyes glazed over. The referee could have stopped the fight, but with Fury caught on the hanging ropes, he gave the injured boxer time to try and straighten up before starting the count of eight. This seems like a very long count.
Fury showed his usual resilience and was competitive in the next two rounds – but rounds 10 and 11 were won by Usyk, who received the harder blows. Before the final round began, Fury stretched out his arm to touch gloves with Usyk, and Usyk nodded in admiration.
Usyk scored early with sharp combinations, but Fury’s two consecutive right hands proved he was still trying to win the fight. But Usyk landed a series of thrilling punches to cap off a gripping and often exciting contest.
The drama began with the two boxers waiting in their respective corners, looking up to the sky and crossing themselves before the opening bell. It’s like they know they’re about to enter a dark place and be pushed to their limits.
The height difference was obvious, Fury was six inches taller, but Usyk took effect immediately, jab after jab to the body. Fury shook his head and waggled his tongue, obviously joking. But then Usyk caught him with a wobbly left overhand at the end of the round. Fury looked out at the crowd, grimacing as he reappeared as the Joker.
Usyk impressed in the second round with some great combinations. Fury found his rhythm and caught Usyk with a right uppercut. The crowd cheered as Fury landed two big right hands to the body, then got back behind the jab. But Usyk was still the aggressor and had a lot of pace.
Usyk was in and out, showing off his proficiency, knocking Fury down with crossbody strikes. But the biggest punch of the third round came from Fury, who bruised Usyk’s body. The Ukrainian briefly backed Fury into a neutral corner in the fourth quarter and beat him with a few sharp shots. Fury responded, his movements sporadic and his boxing beautiful. There was a brief clash of heads, but Fury continued to pound the body with powerful and tiring blows in the fifth. Those punches threatened to unravel Usyk.
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In the sixth round, a series of right uppercuts shook Usyk to his core. Fury was in top form, tagging the Ukrainian time and time again, wagging his tongue to the crowd as the bell rang, suggesting he was now in control. He was wrong. Fury landed a punishing, repetitive right uppercut to the body in the seventh, but Usyk was as determined as ever, finishing the round with crisp combinations. His talent was about to blossom, but huge credit should also go to Fury, who suffered his first loss in Game 36.
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Usyk, the 2012 Olympic champion and undisputed former lightweight world champion, has the disadvantage of being more than two stone lighter than the giant 6ft 9in, 18st 10lb Gypsy King. But the 37-year-old Usyk is a master of his craft, with an iron will and a clear purpose. As an amateur he competed in 350 fights and as a professional he never lost in 22 fights and has now reached the pinnacle of his extraordinary career.
Lennox Lewis was the last undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, winning all the belts when he defeated Evander Holyfield in Las Vegas in 1999 . Fury is brave and admirable, but the imperious Usyk can now join the pantheon of heavyweight kings.
