Tyson Fury suffered a split-decision points defeat to Oleksandr Usyk on a dramatic night in Saudi Arabia as the Ukrainian became boxing’s first four-belt undisputed heavyweight champion.
With the win in Riyadh, Usyk took the WBC belt from Fury to add to his WBA, WBO and IBF collection.
The scorecards gave 115-112 and 114-113 decisions in favour of Usyk, with a third judge scoring it 114-113 to Fury.
It meant Fury, 35, lost for the first time in a 16-year professional career.
But Brit Fury, while speaking after the fight in Riyadh, contested the judges result, insisting he won “majority” of the rounds despite being given a standing 10-count and saved by the bell after an Usyk onslaught in the ninth round had him crumbling to the ropes.
“I believe he (Usyk) won a few of the rounds, but I won the majority,” Fury said in the ring.
“It was one of the daftest decisions in boxing. I’ll be back.”
Fury added, “We’ve both put on a good fight. Best we could do. And, you know, his country’s at war. So people are siding with a country at war. But make no mistake, I’ve won that fight in my opinion, and I’ll be back. We’ve got a rematch clause.
“You know, I thank Jesus for all the victories he’s given me. I’ve dropped a split decision to the good little man, and I thank him again in the mighty name of Jesus. We go back home to our families, and we’ll run it back in October.”
