The gypsy king Tyson Fury fell to the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk in the undisputed heavyweight championship bout.
Tyson Fury suffered a split-decision points defeat on a dramatic night in Saudi Arabia as Oleksandr Usyk became boxing’s first four-belt undisputed heavyweight champion.
On a grand stage and on a legacy-defining night, Briton, nicknamed “the Gypsy King” Fury began well but was given a standing 10 count and saved by the bell after Usyk turned up the gear in the ninth round of the bout.
It meant the “Gypsy King” Tyson Fury, 35, lost for the first time in a 16-year professional career. He will get an immediate chance for revenge with a rematch planned for later this year.
Fury after the bout said that he believed he had won the bout, “I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won the majority.
“It was one of the daftest decisions in boxing. I’ll be back.”
Usyk takes the WBC belt from Fury, to add to his WBA, WBO and IBF collection.
The 37-year-old remains unbeaten and is the first boxer in almost 25 years to stand tall as the one and only heavyweight world champion.
Usyk in his post bout comment said that he was ready for a rematch “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.
“I am ready for a rematch.”
After a lack of buzz in the arena for the undercard, a crowd of 20,000 that included famous faces such as footballing icon Cristiano Ronaldo found their voices for the main event.
Usyk made his entrance wearing a striking all-green traditional Ukrainian outfit, his eyes fixated on the ring.
While in complete contrast, a playful Fury sang and danced to Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out For A Hero.
He raced to the ring and headed straight to Usyk’s corner and goaded his opponent, to the enjoyment of 2,500 travelling British fans.
As the two champions advanced to the centre of the ring at the chime of the first bell, the painstakingly long wait to crown an undisputed champion was about to end.
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A smiling and brazen Fury showboated his way through the first round.
Even after Usyk landed a solid left hook and backed him into the corner, the ‘Gypsy King’ dismissively laughed it off.
Fury responded with two painful-looking uppercuts to Usyk’s midriff in the second.
The height and reach advantage of Fury was posing too much of a puzzle for Usyk to solve, or at least it seemed so in the early rounds.
With Lennox Lewis, the division’s last undisputed champion in the three-belt era, and fellow former champions Larry Holmes and Evander Holyfield watching on from ringside, Usyk finally found his rhythm.
After a barrage of overhand lefts, a dazed Fury staggered around the ring and into the ropes.
He was given a 10 count before the bell rang as the momentum suddenly swung in Usyk’s favour.
This was not the boring, tactical, chess-like match-up alot of pundits predicted, but a barnstormer, living up to the pre-fight hype from fans and promoters.
Another bruising left hand caught Fury in the 11th. The pair touched gloves before the 12th and there was a feeling there was still all to play for.
But it was a spirited Usyk who may have just edged a competitive final round, and ultimately perhaps that got him across the winning line.
