Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) defeated Tyson Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) by split decision in a dramatic, seesaw battle to capture the undisputed championship Saturday evening at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
With the victory, Usyk became only the second former undisputed cruiserweight champion, following Evander Holyfield, to repeat the deed at heavyweight.
Usyk stunned Fury with an overhand left in round nine that sent him reeling into the ropes. A series of power shots, punctuated by another sweeping left, sent Fury staggering near a neutral corner. Referee Mark Nelson called it a knockdown, and Fury rose gingerly to his feet as the bell sounded to end the stanza.
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βI believe I won that fight. I believe he won a few of the rounds. I thought I won a majority of them, and I believe it was a β what can you do β these are the decisions in boxing. We both put on a good fight, the best we could do,β Fury said, βWe go back, have a little rest up, spend some time with our families, and get it back on in October.β