Undisputed champ Usyk looking forward to deserved break from the ring

Oleksandr Usyk will switch off from boxing after proving he is the best heavyweight of his generation by outpointing Tyson Fury in Riyadh.

Usyk emerged from a shaky sixth round to finish strongly against Fury, who was desperately close to being stopped in the ninth with only the ropes and bell coming to his rescue.

The remarkable Ukrainian now holds the distinction of becoming just the second fighter alongside Evander Holyfield to be crowned undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight champion.

Usyk's training camp for 'Ring of Fire’ was extended when Fury suffered a cut in training, forcing the original date of 17 February to be postponed, and the Olympic gold medallist revealed the sacrifices he made to be ready.

"I don't want to think about boxing now," said Usyk, who arrived for the post-fight press conference with his daughter Yelizaveta’s Eeyore cuddly toy.

"My camp started in September 2023 and I worked for nine months. I missed Happy New Year, I missed my son’s birthday, I missed my other son’s birthday, I missed my daughter’s birthday and then the birth of my daughter.

"I also missed family holidays. I was only focused on this fight. Now I’m happy and I want to go back home."

Usyk’s status as undisputed champion will be brief with the IBF soon to strip him of their title as his contracted rematch with Fury in October means he is unable to face their mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic.

But there is no questioning his place at the summit of the division after relentlessly pursuing Fury across 12 gripping rounds, defying the disadvantage of conceding almost three stones in weight and six inches in height to topple the bigger man. Fury, predictably, claimed after the bout that he had beaten Usyk.

The 37-year-old made a brief