Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) defeated Tyson Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) by split decision in a dramatic, seesaw battle to capture the undisputed championship Saturday evening at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
With the victory, Usyk became only the second former undisputed cruiserweight champion, following Evander Holyfield, to repeat the deed at heavyweight.
Usyk stunned Fury with an overhand left in round nine that sent him reeling into the ropes. A series of power shots, punctuated by another sweeping left, sent Fury staggering near a neutral corner. Referee Mark Nelson called it a knockdown, and Fury rose gingerly to his feet as the bell sounded to end the stanza.
MORE HERE: 🚨 Oleksandr Usyk responds to controversial moment in Tyson Fury fight: “No knockout? No problem.
You can watch the video below:
This angle of Usyk rocking Fury 🤯 😱 #FuryUsyk #RingOfFire pic.twitter.com/YaJYsnzDbL
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) May 19, 2024
The moment Oleksandr Usyk DROPPED Tyson Fury 😳#FuryUsyk pic.twitter.com/EPeaTUtJoK
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) May 19, 2024
THAT 9TH ROUND 🤯🤯🤯#FuryUsyk | #RingOfFire | #RiyadhSeason | @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/FrFGY67AcW
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 19, 2024
“I believe I won that fight. I believe he won a few of the rounds. I thought I won a majority of them, and I believe it was a — what can you do — these are the decisions in boxing. We both put on a good fight, the best we could do,” Fury said, “We go back, have a little rest up, spend some time with our families, and get it back on in October.”
