Alexander Usyk from Ukraine is now the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion of the world. He beat British boxer Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia.
- Usyk and Fury both held some heavyweight championship titles before the fight
- Neither boxer had lost a professional fight before
- The 12-round fight was very close for the first several rounds
- But Usyk hurt Fury badly in the 9th round and took control
Will you keep reading to learn all the exciting details about this considerable boxing event?
The Fight Summary
Early Rounds
At first, the giant Fury used his longer reach advantage to keep Usyk at a distance. The plan seemed to work as Fury appeared ahead after the fight’s first half.
But in the 9th round, everything changed.
Usyk Takes Control
Usyk landed a series of stiff punches that staggered Fury badly. The referee had to give Fury a standing count as he stumbled around the ring.
From that point on, the smaller Usyk was in firm control. Despite his brave efforts, Fury couldn’t regain momentum.
When the final bell rang, Usyk won by split decision 2-1 on the judges’ scorecards.
Undisputed Champion
By winning, Usyk claimed all of the significant heavyweight championship belts. He is the first boxer in 25 years to hold every title simultaneously and become the world’s undisputed heavyweight champion.
In Their Own Words
After the fight, the new champion said:
“My focus was only this fight. Now I’m happy. I want to go back home to Ukraine and go to my church to pray. Thank you Jesus for this big opportunity for me and my country.”
The dejected Fury admitted:
“It was a close fight. I believed I did enough, but I’m not the judge. He was the better man tonight.”
Cementing His Legacy
One expert called Usyk’s win “a performance that cemented his place as one of the greatest boxers of all time.”
By unifying all the heavyweight titles, Usyk achieved something only one other boxer (Evander Holyfield) had done before, winning championships in cruiserweight and heavyweight.
Does Usyk’s incredible victory already make him an all-time great boxer? Or does he need to keep winning to prove he’s one of the best?
