A critical ninth-round knockdown clinched the victory in this historic clash between two top-tier fighters. Usyk’s split decision win makes him the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years, succeeding Lennox Lewis.
Oleksandr Usyk defeats Tyson Fury by a split decision. Ring announcer Michael Buffer reads out the judges’ results in a packed arena full of anticipation. The initial score was 115-112 in favor of Usyk. Fury wins the second round, 114-113. The third was 114-113… for Oleksandr Usyk!
“I thought the fight was over,” Hearn admits. “Watching Fury was wonderful. His movements, the way he used his size, and his reliance on Usyk. He was properly positioning him in the middle, and his jab was on point. He was braggadocious. People wonder if he turned it off. No, Tyson Fury was simply being himself.
“You cannot take that away from him. He’s done it in all of his fights, and he’s looked great. But you must acknowledge Oleksandr Usyk’s genius. He conquered every cruiserweight champion before moving up and defeating Anthony Joshua twice to win the unified world heavyweight champion, and now he has beaten Tyson Fury. We’re talking about one of the best fighters of all time.
“After six rounds, you could bet anything that the fight was over. It didn’t seem feasible. I was thinking, This is unbelievable. It’s a simple affair. There will be no rematch. AJ heads right to Fury. Then, all of a sudden, things shifted, and Usyk barely survived the ninth round, but he showed amazing courage by staying on his feet. What an incredible fight!
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Hearn goes on to say, “As a Brit, we wanted to win tonight, but you can’t help but feel for Usyk and his country. What a remarkable achievement! He will boost Ukraine. He will be an undeniable national hero, and he deserves it. He is a good man and a good person. And what a show! I honestly felt he was done with the fight.”
“First and foremost, what a spectacle!” exclaims Eddie Hearn, Matchroom’s CEO and promoter of former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. “It was great for boxing. The fight was amazing, with two separate halves. In the first half, I struggled to give Usyk more than one round.
Then everything changed in rounds seven and eight, and the momentum switched. How did he endure the night? I think he was quite fortunate that the referee did not intervene. In the tenth and eleventh rounds, he showed amazing courage and composure by remaining on his feet. Even though he lost those rounds, he was recovering.
How did Usyk overcome this fight?
Usyk began to appear fatigued, but he maintained his momentum. He kept moving forward, putting Fury under pressure. The 12th round was fairly competitive. Everyone at the ringside was wondering who had the upper hand at the end. To me, it was either a draw or Usyk by only one or two rounds.
Tyson Fury was brilliant in the first half; it was virtually a mismatch. Nonetheless, Usyk persisted. He didn’t seem to find a way until he started winning rounds in a row. Fury was badly damaged in the ninth round, which was extraordinary. What a struggle! “An unbelievable battle.”
“That was quite the showdown,” says Lennox Lewis, whose retirement sparked a feud in the title that has yet to be resolved. “I’ve been stressing that he has an entire nation behind him, fighting for a clear objective.
It was obvious during the match. He fiercely pushed Tyson Fury round after round. Tyson Fury was worn down by subtle body blows. Tyson Fury needed to be more disciplined. He should have kept his guard up. He was apprehended, and Usyk took advantage of it since Fury was reckless.
Reflecting on Fury’s ninth-round knockdown, Lewis stated, “[Fury] has a solid chin, but his footing and focus let him down, leaving him vulnerable.” He lauded Usyk, stating that “Usyk’s focus and the energy from his fans lifted his performance to exceptional heights.”
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