RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Oleksandr Usyk is the new undisputed heavyweight champion after a tremendous fight against Tyson Fury in Riyadh. One judge scored it 114-113 for Fury, but the other two judges overruled with scores of 115-112 and 114-113 for Usyk. Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs), who entered with the WBA, IBF, and WBO belts, captured Fury’s (34-1-1, 24 KOs) WBC and lineal titles, marking the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000. Fury briefly stunned Usyk with a right uppercut in Round 6, but Usyk rebounded with a relentless offense, landing sharp combinations and controlling the pace.
In the eighth round, Usyk landed a three-punch combination, forcing Fury onto the ropes and stunning him with a looping right hand. Usyk’s aggression continued in the 11th and 12th rounds, landing powerful punches and dictating the fight’s tempo. Despite Fury’s efforts early in the final round, Usyk’s relentless pressure secured his victory. This fight solidified Usyk’s status as the pound-for-pound king in boxing. Alalshikh confirmed the rematch is likely to take on 12th or 13th October 2024, not taking into account exceptional circumstances such as injuries or unforeseen events.
