Oleksandr Usyk Defeats Tyson Fury by SD, Now Undisputed
By Eddie Sanchez
The wait for the first Undisputed Heavyweight Champion since Lennox Lewis was well worth it! Both men delivered a fight truly worthy of the prestigious prize they were competing for.
One judge scored it 114-113 for Fury, but was overruled by scores of 114-113 and 115-112 for Usyk, handing the Englishman his first professional loss.
“It’s a big opportunity for me, my family, my country, and history,” said Usyk, who resides in war-torn Ukraine. “It’s a great day.”
Usyk, who entered with the WBA, IBF, and WBO belts, captured Fury’s WBC title to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era. He also became the lineal heavyweight champion, a title Fury had held since 2015 after his upset victory over Usyk’s countryman, Wladimir Klitschko.
The two-fight deal for this highly anticipated matchup includes a planned rematch on October 12 in Riyadh, where Fury will seek to even the score and move on to a superfight with Anthony Joshua in early 2025.
With the IBF sanctioning a title fight between Daniel Dubois and Filip Hrgovic, Usyk-Fury II will not be for Undisputed the second time around. Dubois will be looking to set himself up for a rematch against Usyk from their controversial fight in 2023.
