OLEKSANDR Usyk scored a razor-thin split decision over Tyson Fury to become the world heavyweight boxing champion, in Riyadh, this morning.
In a thrilling contest at the Kingdom Arena, Usyk weathered a storm in the middle of the fight but came roaring back, forcing Fury to take a standing count in the ninth round as he blazed his way to victory
The 37-year-old Ukrainian is the first boxer to hold all four major heavyweight belts at the same time and the first undisputed champion since the end of Lennox Lewis’ reign in April 2000.
The Ukrainian got the better of the opening rounds before Fury hit his stride in the fourth, but Usyk battled back with several stinging reminders of his power.
Usyk turned the tide in the eighth round, and few would have been surprised had the referee stopped the fight in the ninth as the Ukrainian’s powerful punches to the head left Fury reeling. – May 19, 2024.
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