Usyk beats Fury to become undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion

Oleksandr Usyk celebrates after defeating Tyson Fury to clinch the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO and Undisputed Heavyweight titles’ at Kingdom Arena on May 18, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by AFP)

Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury by split decision to win the world’s first undisputed heavyweight championship in 25 years on Sunday, an unprecedented feat in boxing’s four-belt era.

The judges scored the fight 115-112 for Usyk, 114-113 for Fury, leaving the final card to decide, which read 114-113 for Usyk.

It meant Fury, 35, lost for the first time in a 16-year professional career. He will get an immediate opportunity for revenge with a rematch planned for later this year.

Britain’s Fury was the early aggressor but Usyk gradually took charge and the “Gypsy King” was saved by the bell in the ninth round before slumping to his first career defeat.

Ukraine’s Usyk joins the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis and Mike Tyson as undisputed heavyweight champion, the first since boxing recognised four major belts in the 2000s.

With the win, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion can legitimately claim to be the best of this era, although a rematch expected in October could provide another twist.

Britain’s Lennox Lewis was the last man to unify the heavyweight belts — three at the time — after beating Evander Holyfield in 1999.

In a post-bout interview, Fury who recorded a loss for the first time in his professional career claimed to have won the fight and requested a rematch which will likely be held in October

He said, “I believe I won that fight. I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won majority of them. And I believe it was – what can you do? – one of them decisions in boxing.

“We’ve both put on a good fight. Best we could do. And,