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Oleksandr Usyk inflicted the first loss on Tyson Fury in his professional career on Saturday night.

The Ukrainian became the first man to reign supreme over the heavyweight division since Lennox Lewis by winning the undisputed crown by way of a split decision in Saudi Arabia.

Usyk had looked to have been drifting in the fight as the ‘Gypsy King’ imposed his size and got to grips with the early pace his opponent set.

Many onlookers would have had Fury ahead on the scorecards until the eighth round, when Usyk shifted the momentum by busting Fury’s nose open.

The fight reached its pivotal moment in the ninth round as a ferocious barrage of punches from Usyk sent Fury flying around the ring and repeatedly staggering against the ropes.

Referee Mark Nelson intervened and forced the count, with Fury just about making it before being saved by the bell.

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk

Fury recovered in the closing stages but it was not enough to extend a 35-fight unbeaten streak.

Judge Craig Metcalfe of Canada awarded Fury the fight at a score 114-113.

Fellow judges Manuel Oliver Palomo and Mike Fitzgerald both scored the fight in favour of Usyk, however, at 115-112 and 114-113 respectively.

Among the many stars in attendance in Saudi Arabia was Anthony Joshua.

The British heavyweight has been tipped to fight the winner of a potential rematch between Fury and Usyk, which has been pencilled in for October.

Joshua has been slated to fight the winner of Daniel Dubois and Filip Hrgovic for the soon-to-be-vacant IBF title, too.

Usyk has already beaten Joshua twice but any meeting with Fury would likely be one the biggest fights boxing has ever seen, such is their status in Britain.

Joshua’s promoter and CEO of Matchroom Boxing Eddie Hearn has revealed Joshua’s thoughts about Saturday night’s drama in the Middle East.

While the general consensus is that the two put on a close fight, Hearn says Joshua thought Usyk was a clear winner.

“He had Usyk winning quite convincingly,” said Hearn of Joshua.

“I went over after and said ‘what do you think?’ And he was like, ‘Usyk’s won, great fight but Usyk comfortable winner.

“I think most people felt that Usyk won, it’s just about how wide they saw the cards.”

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 Fury began well but was given a standing 10 count and saved by the bell after an Usyk onslaught in the ninth round.

In a tense wait for the scorecards to be read out, Fury appeared convinced of victory before a stony-faced Usyk broke down in tears when he was confirmed as the winner.

The scorecards read 115-112 and 114-113 for the Ukrainian, 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. He will get an immediate opportunity 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 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 sport’s sole heavyweight world champion.

“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.”

Usyk edges history-making fight

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk

Usyk – a former undisputed cruiserweight world champion – prevailed in a fight of two halves at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena, propelling himself into the conversation to be considered an all-time great.

After a lack of buzz and noise in the arena for the undercard, not unusual for a Saudi card, a crowd of 20,000 that included famous faces such as Cristiano Ronaldo found their voice for the main event.

Usyk – resembling a warrior – made his entrance wearing a striking all-green traditional Ukrainian outfit, his eyes fixated on the ring.

In contrast to Usyk’s sternness, 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.

A smiling and brazen Fury showboated his way through the first round. Even when 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 so it seemed.

Usyk has been guilty of starting slowly in the past and was badly hurt by an uppercut in the sixth as the fight appeared to be slipping away.

But he spectacularly came back in an astonishing ninth round.

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 – seemingly out on his feet – 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 some 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 – 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.

Usyk’s unshakable will prevails against a fit Fury

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk

October’s lacklustre performance against debutant Francis Ngannou left many wondering if Fury’s best days were behind him.

But he was a conditioned and fit competitor here, and any suggestion of his demise was quashed when he controlled early parts of a close encounter.

His chance of becoming an undisputed champion, however, may not come again soon.

A rematch is in the works for October but it is unlikely to be for all four belts – the IBF plan to strip Usyk as he will not be facing its mandatory challenger next.

“We’ll go back, rest up. I believe I won the fight but I’m not going to sit and cry and make excuses. We’ll run it again,” Fury added.

Fury may be licking his wounds behind closed doors when the dust settles as Usyk’s unshakable will to win and mental toughness prevailed in the Middle East.

The heavyweight world title is considered by boxing lovers as the greatest, most coveted, prize in sport, and the Crimea-born fighter left the ring draped in all four belts across his 6ft 3in frame.

Usyk, who competed as a middleweight as an amateur, showed that size does not always matter.

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.”

MMA Fighting has Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk live round-by-round updates for one of the most anticipated boxing fights of the year on Saturday night at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The main event is expected to begin around 5 p.m. ET on DAZN and PPV.com pay-per-view. Check out our Fury vs. Usyk results page to find out what happened on the undercard.

Fury (34-0-1) is one of the most decorated heavyweight champions in recent history, but had an underwhelming performance against lineal UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou when the two fought each other this past October. Fury eked out a split decision victory over the boxing debutant, despite getting dropped in the third round. Now he faces a considerably more experienced opponent in Usyk.

Usyk (21-0) is the 2012 Olympic gold medalist in boxing. He turned professional in 2013 and has been dominant since, becoming the first (and thus far only) undisputed cruiserweight champion in the four-belt era. Usyk then moved up to heavyweight, where he twice defeated Anthony Joshua to claim his current titles. Most recently, Usyk defended his belts with a ninth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois this past August.

That’s a wrap on the undercard. The Fury vs. Usyk main event is up next.

Get the Fury vs. Usyk round-by-round live blog below:

But first, a live performance from JID.

Here they come, the highly anticipated undisputed heavyweight title fight is actually happening! Usyk out first.

And now, “The Gypsy King,” Tyson Fury. Unreal atmosphere for two incredible walkouts. Fury coming out to You’re The First, The Last, My Everything by Barry White, which then transitions into Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out for a Hero.

Round 1: Fury sprints to the middle of the ring, Usyk right there to meet him. Head movement from Fury as he sets up his jab. He’s keeping his distance perfectly, just probing with that lead hand. Glancing body shot by Fury. Usyk with no answer for that jab yet. Some showboating from Fury as Usyk tries to corner him. Jab working for Fury. Jab-body combo by Fury, Usyk throws caution to the wind and gets Fury’s attention with an overhand left. Flurry by Usyk, but Fury ducks out of the corner to safety. Tense first round.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Fury.

Round 2: Usyk sneaks in a jab and follows with a hard left. Fury tries to laugh it off, but those connected. Usyk chasing, he tags Fury to the body. Double jab by Fury. Usyk cutting off the ring, but he takes a jab for his troubles. Fury drops his hands behind him, taunting Usyk. Jab by Fury. Usyk finds an opening for that left hand again. Fury winds up a right to the body. There’s a right up top and that got Usyk’s attention. Usyk with a combination in the corner. Great pressure by Usyk. Uppercut by Fury. Great round.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Usyk. Overall, 19-19.

Round 3: Usyk jabs at the body to approach. Fury rifling his jab out there to slow Usyk. There’s a 1-2 by Fury. Usyk touching the body as he cuts off the ring. Fury showing slick footwork to avoid being cornered. Left hook by Usyk. Usyk not letting Fury circle without pressure. Body shot by Fury. Combination from Fury connects. He’s letting Usyk come to him. Usyk aggressive, he connects with the left again.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Fury. Overall, 29-28 Fury.

Round 4: Usyk again on the front foot right away. Fury countering with body punches. His hands are loose and he’s forcing Usyk to cover up. Usyk closes the distance. Left hand from Usyk scores. There’s that long left uppercut by Fury, Usyk didn’t see that coming. Fury firing punches up top and he drops his hands again. No shortage of confidence, as usual. Right uppercut by Fury. Another glancing Fury right scores. Usyk staying steady, not playing into Fury’s antics. Good body work by Usyk as Fury continues to clown around. They trade hooks. Counter uppercut by Fury as he backs up.

Jose Aldo

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Fury. Overall, 39-37 Fury.

Round 5: Fury catches Usyk with a short jab. Usyk using a lot of energy to find angles, and he gets a right hook to land. Fury punches his way out of the corner. Right hand from Usyk scores. There’s a loud right from Fury. Left hook to the body by Fury. Another right to the midsection from Fury. There’s another shot, but Usyk signals that it was below the belt. The action quickly resets, with Fury pressuring. That jab is just stuffed in Usyk’s face. Usyk gets his gloves up to block a Fury combo.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Fury. Overall, 49-46 Fury.

Round 6: Jab by Fury, Usyk counters with a body punch. He pushes Fury to the ropes, but Fury works his way out. Fury circles and lands a left. He keeps going to the body. Probing left by Usyk. Good combination from Fury. Fury starting to lean on the smaller fighter. Hard body shot by Fury hurts Usyk. He tags him again and Usyk’s defense opens up, Fury rocks him with an uppercut. Usyk retreating. Body-head combo by Fury. Usyk keeping his distance as best he can. Clear Fury round.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Fury. Overall, 59-55 Fury.

Round 7: Usyk not backing down, he corners Fury and throws to the body. Fury too big to keep there though and he just circles out. Right uppercut by Fury, then a right to the body. There’s that weight advantage factoring in as he bodies Usyk against the ropes. Strong jab from Usyk, he’s connecting. Straight left by Usyk. Fury biding his time and after a lull he lands another stiff uppercut. Usyk not letting Fury relax. Usyk steps in with a left hand up high. Competitive round.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Usyk. Overall, 68-65 Fury.

Round 8: Usyk determined to be the aggressor, he opens the eighth with a burst of power punches. Fury defending well, but Usyk definitely scoring. Jab by Fury, Usyk ducks down and attacks the body. Usyk blocks a Fury combo and lands one of his own. Fury not taunting now. Fury reestablishes the jab. Usyk steps in and lands another good punch. Wide right hand from Usyk catches Fury.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Usyk. Overall, 77-75 Fury.

Round 9: Usyk with a 1-2, he’s taking the fight right to Fury. Fury’s jab remains reliable. Good straight right by Fury, then another. Fury pumping in uppercuts as Usyk closes the distance. Jab by Usyk, he just misses with a power left. Moments later, he lands it. Usyk back to the body. Superb head movement from Usyk. He scores with a big left. Short right by Usyk. Two big punches from Usyk and Fury is HURT. Left from Usyk. Fury stumbling, he’s in danger, 15 seconds left in the round. Usyk is clubbing him. Fury doesn’t go down, but the referee steps in to issue a count. Fury responds, but he’s lucky the round is over. He was on dream street.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-8, Usyk. Overall, 85-85.

Round 10: Usyk right back on the attack. Fury’s legendary resilience being put to the test. That left hand of Usyk is breaking through Fury’s guard. Fury using his reach to keep Usyk away, but he’s not landing anything impactful. Usyk patient. Left hand from Usyk, he flurries and Fury has to turtle up. Back in the center of the ring, they jockey for position. That Usyk left has Fury flinching. Straight left for Usyk. Fury controlling the range back in the middle of the ring. Fury back to showboating, but only for a second as Usyk piles on the pressure. Right connects for Fury. Last 30 seconds could decide this round. Usyk left hand has Fury almost turning away along the ropes.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Usyk. Overall, 95-94 Usyk.

Round 11: Fury lets Usyk take him to the ropes, Usyk not over-committing. Fury’s jab not finding its mark right now, Usyk times it and hits that left again. Usyk to the body. He goes body-body-head and Fury slows him with some grabbing. Fury to the body now. Right hand by Usyk. Usyk left hand, Fury counter punches. Usyk letting his left hand go and he’s scoring. Right hook by Usyk. Fury with some dirty boxing to close the round, but Usyk shakes him off and lands that overhand left again. Wow.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Usyk. Overall, 105-103 Usyk.

Round 12: Three minutes to glory. Some ugly grappling right out of the gate. Usyk advances with his jab. Fury’s head movement saves him from the follow-up strikes. Usyk pops him with the left. Fury counters with a left hook. Fury jabs and circles. Overhand left by Usyk again, he wants to keep Fury in the corner. Left catches Fury again. Hard right by Fury. Usyk taps the body. He steps in with a lead right and he scores. Fury hits Usyk with a right. That might have wobbled him, but no follow-up from Fury. Fury smacks him with a two-punch combo. Right by Usyk catches Fury off balance. Fury drops his hands with 10 seconds to go. They trade, but neither can land the conclusive shot. Drama! Scorecards could be all over the place.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Fury. Overall, 114-113 Usyk.

Official result: Oleksandr Usyk def. Tyson Fury via split decision (115-112, 113-114, 114-113)

Usyk and Fury embrace after the fight, with Fury telling Usyk, “Well done.”

Fury adds that he believes he won the fight and looks forward to their rematch, which was previously agreed upon in their bout contract. He wants the bout in October.

Usyk welcomes an immediate rematch with Fury.

Oleksandr Usyk produced a stunning performance to beat Tyson Fury on Saturday night and become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four belt era.

The judges on the night scored the bout 115-112 Usyk, 114-113 Fury and 114-113 Usyk to see the Ukrainian win via split-decision.

It was a tale of two halves at the Kingdom Arena, after Fury dominated the opening rounds before Usyk came back to control the fight with a flurry of punches in the ninth round leaving the Gypsy King floundering.

After the final round, there was mutual respect between the two fighters who exchanged kisses and hugs as they awaited the result.

However, Fury’s mood soured when Usyk was named the victor with the British fighter telling an interviewer that ‘people are siding with Usyk because of the Ukraine war’.

Both men came flying out of the blocks in the opening round, as Fury looked to keep Usyk at distance before targeting the body with some heavy shots.

Usyk however, using his diligent footwork, looked to negate Fury’s reach and get inside by operating on different levels – which eventually paid dividends.

However, in the opening round, Fury was clearly enjoying himself and gestured to the crowd before being caught by the Ukrainian while on the ropes.

The Gypsy King looked for the uppercut in the second round, missing twice before catching Usyk with 10 seconds left on the clock. The Ukrainian wore it well but certainly felt Fury’s power.

Usyk then landed a right-left combination in the second before wincing from a powerful body shot from Fury.

However, the Ukrainian did end the round by getting Fury in the corner and landing a flurry of punches before complaining about his counter-punch landing on the back of the head.

Then, a clash of heads in the fourth concerned fans that Fury’s cut would open up however Fury didn’t appear to be worried – summoning Usyk on before doing a few Muhammed Ali shuffles.

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk

Fury appeared to be getting the better of his opponent, as Usyk complained of two low blows in the fifth round before being caught to the body twice. Fury also managed to cut Usyk above his right eye.

The Gypsy King got the fans excited in the sixth, landing an uppercut that wobbled the Ukrainian before finishing the round with his hands behind his back.

However, Usyk survived and began to mount an impressive comeback, as he continued to operate on different levels in the eighth to try and close the distance.

Then, the tables turned in the ninth round. Fury was saved by the bell, or perhaps the referee, after going down following a relentless attack from Usyk.

The Ukrainian drew upon energy that Fury did not think remained, after dominating earlier, and stunned the British heavyweight with some powerful combinations.

Usyk then continued the charge in the 10th and asserted his dominance over the British star as he continued to set the pace and keep Fury on the back-foot.

Following the tenth, both men showed signs of fatigue after putting everything they had into what can only be described as an excellent fight.

It was an all out war for the final round, with the judges scoring it 115-112 Usyk, 114-113 Fury and 114-113 Usyk.

After the fight, Fury claimed ‘people are siding with Usyk because of the Ukraine war’ following his split-decision defeat.

‘I believe I won that fight,’ he said on TNT Sports Box Office’s live broadcast of the fight. 

‘And I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won the majority of them. I believe we both put on a good fight – best we could do.

‘And, you know, his country is at war. People are siding with the country at war. Make no mistake, I won that fight in my opinion.’

Usyk’s trainer, Alexander Krassyuk, evidently did not agree with Fury’s claims as he insisted that the Ukrainian was robbed of a knockout in the ninth round.

Krassyuk said: ‘I’m exhausted, I was backing Usyk all fight. No disrespect to the referee but I think he stopped a KO in the ninth but anyway it was a tremendous performance.

‘It was unbelievable and I hope to see more in the rematch.’

Shortly after the decision, fans gave their support to the Brit on social media, with some claiming he was wronged on the scorecards.

‘Tyson Fury got robbed,’ one fan posted on X in reaction to the bout. ‘Showed a heart of a lion.’

Another wrote: ‘Fury 115 Usyk 144 – Fury robbed but Usyk brilliant!’

A number of sport’s biggest stars were seen in attendance on the night – with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Anthony Joshua and Neymar all watching on.

Ronaldo, who currently plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, has been a regular at big fights in Saudi Arabia and continued that trend on Saturday.

Sat alongside Joshua for the big fight, the footballer was a large focus of attention as the build to the main event continued inside the Kingdom Arena.

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk

Before the main event got underway, the 39-year-old was approached by former rival and fellow football superstar Neymar, and the two engaged in a brief conversation before embracing.

In an exclusive interview with Mail Sport in the build-up to the fight, Usyk said that he wants to give back to those who have suffered from the war in his home country.

His charity, the Usyk foundation, have launched a major fundraising campaign to raise 1million EUR to purchase 50 ambulances to save Ukrainian lives amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Speaking on the conflict he said: ‘My everyday routine begins with picking up the phone and reading the news about how many rockets have landed in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other cities today.

‘Every morning I check to see if all of my friends and loved ones are alive and pray for their safety. And this is how millions of Ukrainians start their day.

‘Before the undisputed fight, I received many words of support from all over the world. Those words inspire and motivate me.’

MMA Fighting has Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk live round-by-round updates for one of the most anticipated boxing fights of the year on Saturday night at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The main event is expected to begin around 5 p.m. ET on DAZN and PPV.com pay-per-view. Check out our Fury vs. Usyk results page to find out what happened on the undercard.

Fury (34-0-1) is one of the most decorated heavyweight champions in recent history, but had an underwhelming performance against lineal UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou when the two fought each other this past October. Fury eked out a split decision victory over the boxing debutant, despite getting dropped in the third round. Now he faces a considerably more experienced opponent in Usyk.

Usyk (21-0) is the 2012 Olympic gold medalist in boxing. He turned professional in 2013 and has been dominant since, becoming the first (and thus far only) undisputed cruiserweight champion in the four-belt era. Usyk then moved up to heavyweight, where he twice defeated Anthony Joshua to claim his current titles. Most recently, Usyk defended his belts with a ninth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois this past August.

That’s a wrap on the undercard. The Fury vs. Usyk main event is up next.

Get the Fury vs. Usyk round-by-round live blog below:

But first, a live performance from JID.

Here they come, the highly anticipated undisputed heavyweight title fight is actually happening! Usyk out first.

And now, “The Gypsy King,” Tyson Fury. Unreal atmosphere for two incredible walkouts. Fury coming out to You’re The First, The Last, My Everything by Barry White, which then transitions into Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out for a Hero.

Round 1: Fury sprints to the middle of the ring, Usyk right there to meet him. Head movement from Fury as he sets up his jab. He’s keeping his distance perfectly, just probing with that lead hand. Glancing body shot by Fury. Usyk with no answer for that jab yet. Some showboating from Fury as Usyk tries to corner him. Jab working for Fury. Jab-body combo by Fury, Usyk throws caution to the wind and gets Fury’s attention with an overhand left. Flurry by Usyk, but Fury ducks out of the corner to safety. Tense first round.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Fury.

Round 2: Usyk sneaks in a jab and follows with a hard left. Fury tries to laugh it off, but those connected. Usyk chasing, he tags Fury to the body. Double jab by Fury. Usyk cutting off the ring, but he takes a jab for his troubles. Fury drops his hands behind him, taunting Usyk. Jab by Fury. Usyk finds an opening for that left hand again. Fury winds up a right to the body. There’s a right up top and that got Usyk’s attention. Usyk with a combination in the corner. Great pressure by Usyk. Uppercut by Fury. Great round.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Usyk. Overall, 19-19.

Round 3: Usyk jabs at the body to approach. Fury rifling his jab out there to slow Usyk. There’s a 1-2 by Fury. Usyk touching the body as he cuts off the ring. Fury showing slick footwork to avoid being cornered. Left hook by Usyk. Usyk not letting Fury circle without pressure. Body shot by Fury. Combination from Fury connects. He’s letting Usyk come to him. Usyk aggressive, he connects with the left again.

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Fury. Overall, 29-28 Fury.

Round 4: Usyk again on the front foot right away. Fury countering with body punches. His hands are loose and he’s forcing Usyk to cover up. Usyk closes the distance. Left hand from Usyk scores. There’s that long left uppercut by Fury, Usyk didn’t see that coming. Fury firing punches up top and he drops his hands again. No shortage of confidence, as usual. Right uppercut by Fury. Another glancing Fury right scores. Usyk staying steady, not playing into Fury’s antics. Good body work by Usyk as Fury continues to clown around. They trade hooks. Counter uppercut by Fury as he backs up.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Fury. Overall, 39-37 Fury.

Round 5: Fury catches Usyk with a short jab. Usyk using a lot of energy to find angles, and he gets a right hook to land. Fury punches his way out of the corner. Right hand from Usyk scores. There’s a loud right from Fury. Left hook to the body by Fury. Another right to the midsection from Fury. There’s another shot, but Usyk signals that it was below the belt. The action quickly resets, with Fury pressuring. That jab is just stuffed in Usyk’s face. Usyk gets his gloves up to block a Fury combo.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Fury. Overall, 49-46 Fury.

Round 6: Jab by Fury, Usyk counters with a body punch. He pushes Fury to the ropes, but Fury works his way out. Fury circles and lands a left. He keeps going to the body. Probing left by Usyk. Good combination from Fury. Fury starting to lean on the smaller fighter. Hard body shot by Fury hurts Usyk. He tags him again and Usyk’s defense opens up, Fury rocks him with an uppercut. Usyk retreating. Body-head combo by Fury. Usyk keeping his distance as best he can. Clear Fury round.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Fury. Overall, 59-55 Fury.

Round 7: Usyk not backing down, he corners Fury and throws to the body. Fury too big to keep there though and he just circles out. Right uppercut by Fury, then a right to the body. There’s that weight advantage factoring in as he bodies Usyk against the ropes. Strong jab from Usyk, he’s connecting. Straight left by Usyk. Fury biding his time and after a lull he lands another stiff uppercut. Usyk not letting Fury relax. Usyk steps in with a left hand up high. Competitive round.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Usyk. Overall, 68-65 Fury.

Round 8: Usyk determined to be the aggressor, he opens the eighth with a burst of power punches. Fury defending well, but Usyk definitely scoring. Jab by Fury, Usyk ducks down and attacks the body. Usyk blocks a Fury combo and lands one of his own. Fury not taunting now. Fury reestablishes the jab. Usyk steps in and lands another good punch. Wide right hand from Usyk catches Fury.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Usyk. Overall, 77-75 Fury.

Round 9: Usyk with a 1-2, he’s taking the fight right to Fury. Fury’s jab remains reliable. Good straight right by Fury, then another. Fury pumping in uppercuts as Usyk closes the distance. Jab by Usyk, he just misses with a power left. Moments later, he lands it. Usyk back to the body. Superb head movement from Usyk. He scores with a big left. Short right by Usyk. Two big punches from Usyk and Fury is HURT. Left from Usyk. Fury stumbling, he’s in danger, 15 seconds left in the round. Usyk is clubbing him. Fury doesn’t go down, but the referee steps in to issue a count. Fury responds, but he’s lucky the round is over. He was on dream street.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-8, Usyk. Overall, 85-85.

Round 10: Usyk right back on the attack. Fury’s legendary resilience being put to the test. That left hand of Usyk is breaking through Fury’s guard. Fury using his reach to keep Usyk away, but he’s not landing anything impactful. Usyk patient. Left hand from Usyk, he flurries and Fury has to turtle up. Back in the center of the ring, they jockey for position. That Usyk left has Fury flinching. Straight left for Usyk. Fury controlling the range back in the middle of the ring. Fury back to showboating, but only for a second as Usyk piles on the pressure. Right connects for Fury. Last 30 seconds could decide this round. Usyk left hand has Fury almost turning away along the ropes.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Usyk. Overall, 95-94 Usyk.

Round 11: Fury lets Usyk take him to the ropes, Usyk not over-committing. Fury’s jab not finding its mark right now, Usyk times it and hits that left again. Usyk to the body. He goes body-body-head and Fury slows him with some grabbing. Fury to the body now. Right hand by Usyk. Usyk left hand, Fury counter punches. Usyk letting his left hand go and he’s scoring. Right hook by Usyk. Fury with some dirty boxing to close the round, but Usyk shakes him off and lands that overhand left again. Wow.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Usyk. Overall, 105-103 Usyk.

Round 12: Three minutes to glory. Some ugly grappling right out of the gate. Usyk advances with his jab. Fury’s head movement saves him from the follow-up strikes. Usyk pops him with the left. Fury counters with a left hook. Fury jabs and circles. Overhand left by Usyk again, he wants to keep Fury in the corner. Left catches Fury again. Hard right by Fury. Usyk taps the body. He steps in with a lead right and he scores. Fury hits Usyk with a right. That might have wobbled him, but no follow-up from Fury. Fury smacks him with a two-punch combo. Right by Usyk catches Fury off balance. Fury drops his hands with 10 seconds to go. They trade, but neither can land the conclusive shot. Drama! Scorecards could be all over the place.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Fury. Overall, 114-113 Usyk.

Official result: Oleksandr Usyk def. Tyson Fury via split decision (115-112, 113-114, 114-113)

Usyk and Fury embrace after the fight, with Fury telling Usyk, “Well done.”

Fury adds that he believes he won the fight and looks forward to their rematch, which was previously agreed upon in their bout contract. He wants the bout in October.

Usyk welcomes an immediate rematch with Fury.

Oleksandr Usyk found a second wind to be crowned the undisputed heavyweight world champion in his fight against Tyson Fury.

Fury dominated the first half of the fight, dancing his way around the ring by showboating whenever he could for the Riyadh crowd. Usyk remained focused and made a magnificent comeback in the second half of the fight, forcing the referee to issue a count to Fury the ropes held him up in the ninth round.

The Brit somehow stayed in the fight but was unable to ever regain the momentum he found in the earlier rounds. Usyk was disciplined until the final bell and did enough to get the nod on two judges’ scorecards after the final bell, adding the final world title he needed to become undisputed.

Follow all the best reaction right here…

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to lock horns in a huge bout on May 18 with each fighter attempting to etch their name in boxing history as the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999. The stakes couldn’t be higher as the pair will go head to head for the prestigious WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF titles.

Usyk ‘will be ready’ for rematch

K2 Promotions’ Alexander Krassyuk has insisted there is “no doubt” Oleksandr Usyk will be ready for a rematch with Tyson Fury in October.

The clause for a rematch later this year has been well documented and Fury already stated in his own post-fight press conference that he would be “back” for that fight.

There were reports circulating after the fight claiming Usyk had suffered a broken jaw. But Krassyuk told ESPN there is “no doubt” Usyk would be ready to go again in October per plans.

RECAP: Fury appears to blame loss on Ukraine war

Tyson Fury appeared to blame his loss to Oleksandr Usyk on Ukraine’s war with Russia.

The British heavyweight was beaten in the Undisputed clash via split decision. The judges scored the fight 115-112, 113-114 and 114-113 in favour of Usyk.

Reacting after the final bell, Fury said: “I believe I won that fight, I think he won a few if those rounds but I won the majority of them. His country is at at war, so people are siding with the country at war,” he said.

Klitschko surprised by Fury

Wladimir Kitschko, who lost to Tyson Fury back in 2015, was surprised when Tyson Fury refused to go down in the ninth round.

He told DAZN: “It was very difficult to get close due to the size and mobility of Tyson Fury. In one word, Oleksandr Usyk changed from one to 100. Unbelievavble. I’m surprised Fury got up. He has the power but his power is his heart. I’m really proud tonight.

“He didn’t get distracted form all of Tyson Fury’s tricks. He waited for the opportunity to make full contact and he did it. Tyson Fury showed the heart of a lion and he recovered fast. I’m so proud of my man.”

What did you make of the fight?

Did Oleksandr Usyk deserve to win?

Should it have been a draw?

Is Tyson Fury’s time at the top of boxing over?

Parker calls Fury a ‘warrior’

Former heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker was full of praise for Tyson Fury after Saturday’s fight.

He told DAZN: “What a fight to watch, I was on the edge of my seat. Usyk set the tone and pushed him back from the beginning. Tyson Fury is a warrior and he always finds a way to get back up. He took some big shots off Usyk.”

Eddie Hearn’s thoughts

Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn believes Oleksandr Usyk deserved the win. He told DAZN: “For me, it was a draw or Usyk by a point or two maximum. It was a mismatch early on but Usyk kept coming. What a fight.”

Hearn added: “You have the mark the brilliance of Usyk. He beat every champion at cruiserweight. He came up and beat AJ (Joshua) twice and now beat Fury. The best heavyweight in the world right now, fact. There’s adjustments that can be made.

“Fury was never out of the fight. He was dominating. The rematch is a big, big fight now. This man is going to be difficult to beat.”

Usyk breaks down in tears after win

Oleksandr Usyk broke down in tears whilst speaking about his father after beating Tyson Fury.

Usyk didn’t speak to reporters for long as he was left in tears whilst speaking about whether his father, who sadly passed away in 2012, visited him spiritually before his fight with Fury.

“I miss my father,” Usyk said. “I said to my father ‘Hey, listen. You live there, I live here.’ Please, no coming for me. I love you. For me it’s hard when my father is coming for me because I remember all my life, I know he’s here.”

The Ukrainian also said he doesn’t want to talk about boxing after spending nine months in training camp to prepare for his fight with Fury.

“My start was October 2023, November, December. Nine months I work, I missed New Year. I missed the birthday of my son, I missed the birthday of my other son. I missed the birthday of my daughter, I missed the birth of my daughter. I missed all of my family holidays, all the time training. My focus was only this fight, now I’m happy. I want to go back home,” he said.

Usyk doesn’t care about not getting KO

When asked about whether he was ‘robbed’ of a KO in the ninth round, Usyk said he doesn’t care as he won the fight.

The Ukrainian also said he doesn’t want to talk about boxing. “My start was October 2023, November, December. Nine months I work, I missed New Year. I missed birthday of my son, I missed birthday of my other son. I missed birthday of my daughter, I missed the birth of my daughter,” he said.

“I missed all of my family holidays, all the time training. My focus was only this fight, now I’m happy. I want to go back home and go to my church and pray.”

Usyk NOT at hospital, holding post-fight press conference

Usyk is NOT at hospital despite some reports, he is holding his post-fight press conference now…

Fury appears to blame Ukraine war for loss

Fury appeared to blame his loss to Usyk in their undisputed clash on Ukraine’s war with Russia.

The judges scored the fight 115-112, 113-114 and 114-113 in favour of Usyk after the final bell. Fury disagreed with the split decision and pointed to the ongoing war in Usyk’s home country as one of the reasons for his loss.

“I believe I won that fight, I think he won a few if those rounds but I won the majority of them. His country is at at war, so people are siding with the country at war,” he said.

‘Usyk was ROBBED of KO’ says manager

Usyk’s manager Alex Krassyuk believes the fight should have been stopped in the ninth round. “With no disrespect to the referee I think the stole the KO in the ninth. Anyway, it was a tremendous performance and I hope to see it more in the rematch,” he said.

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk

Fury believes he won

“I believe I won that fight, I think he won a few if those rounds but I won the majority of them. His country as at war, so people are siding with the country at war. Make no mistake, I won that fight in my opinion. I’ve had a split decision loss with a little man. Good luck, God bless you,” Fury said after his loss.

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – Round 12

HERE WE GO! Three minutes left. Usyk lands again with the left and Fury responds with a big right hand. Clash of heads and they touch gloves. Big right hand lands for Fury and Usyk responds with a right hand of his own. Good uppercut from Fury, he puts his hands behind his back to showboat. WE GO TO THE JUDGES!

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – Round 11

Lots of jabs from Fury to start the round and Usyk comes over the top with an overhand left. Usyk walking down Fury with his hands down and the Brit finally throws an uppercut for the first time since being hurt. A good left hand from Usyk to finish the round, three minutes left to go….

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – Round 10

Fury looks to have his feet back under him but he’s not throwing many punches at the start of this round. Usyk with some showboating of his own and Fury looks to have his witts about him now. A very close round…

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – Round 9

Straight right hand for Fury and he digs in some hooks to the body whilst in the clinch. Two good left hands land in quick succession for Usyk! BIG LEFT HAND FOR USYK AND FURY IS OUT ON HIS FEET! The Brit is given a standing count! Fury is saved by the bell!

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – Round 8

Fury starts strong but Usyk matches his oace with two good left hands. Usyk complaining to the referee about another low blow from Fury. Overhand left from Usyk lands and the Ukrainian is having a better round. Fury’s nose is covered in blood!

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – Round 7

Some good jabs from Usyk in this round and he sens the sweat spraying off Fury’s head with a left hand. Another good uppercut from Fury pings Usyk’s head back! Another good left hand from Usyk and Fury smiles in recognition of it, a better response from the Ukrainian.

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – Round 6

Another good body shot from Fury to start the round and Usyk will need a big response in this stanza. Good uppercut from Fury lands and Usyk takes it well. USYK IS HURT! What a flurry from Fury! Usyk recovers well but Fury had him on wobbly legs.

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – Round 5

Smooth flurry from Fury to the body and he lands an uppercut too for good measure. Usyk complains about a punch on his belt line from Fury. The Brit is having his best round of the fight so far and has upped the output. Usyk bites on a feint and Fury puts himself into a corner at the end of the round, landing a big one-two whilst circling out.

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – Round 4

Double and triple jabs from Fury. Usyk is capitalising whenever he puts Fury on the ropes. Fury lands a good right hand and lets Usyk know about it by showboating after. Brief half to the action as the referee warns Usyk for leading with his head. More showboating from Fury whilst in the corner, he’s loving this!

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – Round 3

Lots of jabs and feints from Fury in this round. Usyk is walking Fury down and catches the Brit with his back to the ropes. Body shot lands from Fury lands on Usyk’s belt line. Usyk punishes Fury for getting lazy and then complains to the referee for a punch to the back of the head by Fury.

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – Round 2

Usyk comes out firing at the start of the second round and catches Fury by surprise. Fury showboating again by putting his hands behind his back but Usyk remaine focused. Good body shot from Fury and he follows up with a one-two! Usyk backs him a corner and Fury digs to the body again, this time with a right hook. Big uppercut from Fury to end the round!

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – Round 1

Usyk opens with two jab sto the body and the Brit fires back with some good body work of his own. Fury backs himself into the corner and showboats for the crowd, but Usyk refuses to play up to his antics. Good overhand left from Usyk in the final 20 seconds.

Watch the moment Francis Ngannou knocked down Tyson Fury and shocked the world; Former champion Enzo Maccarinelli examines what made Ngannou so effective against Fury and considers what kind of threat he poses to Anthony Joshua; Watch Joshua vs Ngannou on Sky Sports Box Office on March 8

No one expected Francis Ngannou to send Tyson Fury crashing to the canvas.

But the UFC heavyweight champion, having his first professional boxing bout, clubbed Fury round the head with a left hook that dropped the Briton heavily in just the third round.

Fury only managed to hold off Ngannou for a split decision win over 10 tough rounds.

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The knockdown Ngannou engineered and his overall performance was stunning to see.

Enzo Maccarinelli, the former WBO cruiserweight champion and MMA expert, explained how he did it.

“I think he came up with a plan,” Maccarinelli told Sky Sports. “Fury likes people coming at him. He likes people throwing shots at him. That’s where he counters and moves round, makes them miss, makes them fall short.

Francis Ngannou’s coach, Dewey Cooper, is down to face John Fury in a boxing match.

In October, ‘The Predator’ faced Tyson Fury in his first-ever boxing match. While Mike Tyson got a lot of attention for training Ngannou in the build, most of the actual training the heavyweight had come with Cooper.

For those who remember the build to that fight, a lot of it featured ‘Big’ John Fury. The father of ‘The Gypsy King’ is a former boxer in his own right, even facing the likes of Henry Akinwande. One man who the 59-year-old never fought was ‘Iron Mike’.

The retired fighter called to fight Tyson at the final press conference before Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou. While the legend just laughed the offer off, it seems that Brit was serious about the potential boxing match.

If Tyson doesn’t want to fight the elder Fury, Cooper is down to take his place. Speaking in a recent interview with Mirror Fighting, the trainer stated:

Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou

“John Fury wanted to fight Mike Tyson, that’s a big fight and would make a lot of money. I don’t blame him, why not? If he called me out, I’d definitely fight him. I’m a coach now, I’m retired from fighting but I train and I can definitely train more if I’m ignited to do such.”

Watch Dewey Cooper and John Fury’s back and forth at Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou presser

The seeds have already been planted for the coaches of Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury to fight.

While John Fury challenged Mike Tyson to a fight at the press conference last fall, he also had a back-and-forth with Dewey Cooper. Whenever the trainer was speaking, the retired Brit quickly interrupted him.

In the heated back and forth, ‘Big’ questioned Cooper’s credentials as a coach and a fighter. A former professional kickboxer as well as a boxer, ‘The Black Cobra’ didn’t seem to appreciate it too much.

At the final Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua press conference last October, the elder Fury stated:

“Who is that talking now? Who are you by the way? Who are you? Who is this man? Who is he? He looks like a cartoon character.”

Cooper quickly shouted back:

“We shall see. You know who the f*** I am. I’m ‘The Black Cobra’, you know who I am. At the end of the day, we’re not here to talk. In two days, the world will see.”

Anthony Joshua has insisted his full focus is on Francis Ngannou ahead of a massive couple of months for heavyweight boxing.

On February 17 in Saudi Arabia, AJ may well be ringside to watch Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO heavyweight world titles.

However, if he is, it will only be because he’s already out in Riyadh training for his own fight in the city against Ngannou on March 8.

His Excellency Turki Alalshikh (Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority) is the driving force behind this shift in the heavyweight division towards Riyadh.

He staged Fury vs Ngannou in October and Joshua vs Otto Wallin in December, and has made his long-term plans clear.

NEWS:-Tyson Fury left red-faced as sparring partner lifts lid on Francis Ngannou camp

Alalshikh wants the British super fight between Fury and AJ to finally come to fruition, if they both win their upcoming bouts.

Despite this dangling carrot in front of him, Joshua is adamant that he won’t look past Ngannou.

“Let me say this again, I’m not focusing on that,” Joshua told The MMA Hour.

“I’m going to take my mind, I have to draw it back that Ngannou is my undisputed title fight. That’s the mentality I have to have.

“Ngannou is my undisputed fight. Because you’re only as good as your last fight, and I respect him a lot.

“He ain’t easy money. He’s a hard night’s work.

“And you know what’s crazy? So am I. I’m a hard night’s work for anyone. So let’s go, it’s going to be fireworks.”