Oleksandr Usyk has been shorter, lighter and older than all of his opponents since he moved up to the heavyweight division.
Usyk’s heart and skill are enormous, and he overcame a major size disadvantage against Tyson Fury to become the world’s first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in 24 years.
Usyk defeated Fury by split decision in the early hours yesterday morning, knocking his hulking opponent down in the ninth round and eventually earning a narrow win on two scorecards. The 37-year-old Ukrainian is the first heavyweight to hold every major title belt since Lennox Lewis.
Photo: Reuters
Usyk (22-0) added Fury’s WBC title to his own WBA, IBF and WBO belts with a spectacular late-round rally in a back-and-forth matchup between two previously unbeaten champions from a strong era of heavyweight boxing. Two judges favored Usyk, 115-112 and 114-113, while the third gave it to Fury, 114-113.
“It’s a great time. It’s a great day,” said Usyk, who is 15cm shorter than Fury and weighed in 13.6kg lighter this week.
Usyk started quickly, but then had to survive while the confident, charismatic Fury dominated the middle rounds. Usyk surged in the final rounds, just as the Olympic gold medalist has done so many times in his career, taking control with a dominant eighth 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 struggled to mount a consistent attack after nearly getting stopped, and the knockdown turned out to be the decisive factor in the decision.
“Thank you so much to my team,” Usyk said while fighting back tears in the ring. “It’s a big opportunity for me, for my family, for my country. Slava Ukraini [Glory to Ukraine].”
Fury kissed Usyk on the head after the final bell, and Usyk hugged Fury several moments after the decision was read.
Fury said he wants the rematch in October.
“I believe I won that fight,” he said. “I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won the majority of them, and I believe it was one of those what-can-you-do, one of them ... decisions in boxing. We both put on a good fight, best we can do.”
“You know, his country is at war, so people are siding with a country at war, but make no mistake, I won that fight, in my opinion, and I’ll be back. I’ve got a rematch clause,” Fury said.
Usyk is the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 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.
After moving up from cruiserweight, Usyk upset Anthony Joshua to win three title belts in 2021. He kept them through a rematch and another defense while angling for the ultimate payday of a fight against Fury in Saudi Arabia.
Usyk landed 41 percent of his 407 punches, while Fury landed just 31.7 percent of his 496 punches, CompuBox statistics showed.
Usyk threw (260 to 210) and landed (122 to 95) more power punches.
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