Oleksandr Usyk ended Tyson Fury’s Unbeaten record as he earned a split decision win to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999.
Usyk won via split decision to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
The judges scored the fight 115-112 to Usyk, 114-113 to Fury and 114-113 to Usyk.
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While Fury went into the fight on a run of 34 win, one draw and no defeat, Usyk had 21 wins also with no losses.
It meant Fury, 35, lost for the first time in a 16-year professional career. The 37-year-old Ukrainian now holds the WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF, IBO and Ring Magazine belts.
There were some notable names present in the title fight tagged: Ring of Fire. Among those present were Brazil football star Neymar, Real Madrid and Manchester United legend Cristina Ronaldo, former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, Liverpool great Steven Gerrard, former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and Hollywood star Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Early in the fight Fury as he shimmied his body when stood in a corner in the first round, swinging his head from side to side.
Usyk sent a left cross arching over to catch Fury’s head in the opening rounds and a solid straight shots hit the Biton too.
In the fourth round Usyk had him in a corner and unleashed his punches forcing Fury to weave away from them. In the sixth round a long right to the head hurt Usyk which forced him to back away from Fury to recover himself.
Fury started the eighth round battering hooks round either side of Usyk’s head but the Ukrainian pushed himself forward, but it was getting harder for him to find a way round Fury’s long punches.
But when Usyk hurt Fury in the ninth it changed the complexion of the fight. He sought to press home his advantage with a flurry of punches which dazed Fury who had to beat the count to stay in the fight.
In the final round, the Briton slugged back at Usyk to keep him off and take the fight the distance.
