Tyson Fury suffered a split-decision points defeat on a dramatic night in Saudi Arabia, as Oleksandr Usyk claims the first four-belt undisputed heavyweight champion in boxing history.
On a grand stage and a legacy-defining night, Briton Fury started strong but was given a standing 10 count and saved by the bell after an intense Usyk onslaught in the ninth round.
In a tense wait for the scorecards, Fury appeared confident of victory. However, a stony-faced Usyk broke down in tears when he was declared the winner.
The scorecards read 115-112 and 114-113 in favor of the Ukrainian, with a third judge scoring it 114-113 for Fury.
This defeat marked the first loss in Fury’s 16-year professional career. He will have an immediate chance for revenge with a rematch planned for later this year.
“I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won the majority,” a defiant Fury said in the ring. “It was one of the daftest decisions in boxing. I’ll be back.”
Usyk, 37, remains unbeaten and is the first boxer in almost 25 years to hold all four major heavyweight titles. He added Fury’s WBC belt to his WBA, WBO, and IBF collection.
“Thank you so much to my team. It’s a big opportunity for my family, for me, for my country. It’s a great time, it’s a great day,” Usyk said. “I am ready for a rematch.”
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