One True King: Oleksandr Usyk Beats Tyson Fury By Split Decision

One True King: Oleksandr Usyk Beats Tyson Fury By Split Decision

We needed something special to match the occasion and the setting. And we got exactly that.

A great fight needs swings of momentum. And we got that as well.

Oleksandr Usyk edged past Tyson Fury in a thoroughly absorbing fight, to crown himself the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. The first one true king since Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield in 1999.

Usyk yet again showed his greatness in overcoming the bigger Fury and replicating his undisputed status from his cruiserweight days.

After a good start, the fight was seemingly slipping away from Usyk as Fury got loose and suddenly found his timing and range from the 4th round onwards. The uppercut especially was landing with increased frequency. And menace. Usyk looked badly hurt in the 5th, but Fury backed off, a decision which may well have cost him the fight. But Fury followed it up with another strong round in the 6th and he was the fighter with all the momentum. The Ukrainian, now two points down on my card, badly needed a good round to stop the rot. And he found it.

Usyk started his mini comeback in the 7th. A much better round followed in the next three minutes. An even better one came his way in the 9th. A round that definitively changed the trajectory of the fight.

Fury was saved from the canvas by the ropes and looked one punch away from defeat as he flailed around the ring helplessly under a blistering assault from Usyk. Arguably, Fury could have been stopped right there and then. The bell most definitely saved Fury. He was given a standing count as the bell of sanctuary was about to chime. Trust me, it was a much-needed reprieve. But it was a 10-8 round, and a round that ultimately won Usyk the fight. The British fighter showed immense heart and bravery to somehow stay in the fight. How he did, nobody will ever know. Another Tyson Fury miracle in a career of many.

Usyk took the 10th, and I had him three points up with two rounds to go. The final six minutes were close. Fury found his senses again and arguably won the 12th and final round. I gave both rounds to Usyk and the fight also.

The scorecards were surprisingly split. One judge favoured Fury 114-113. Thankfully, and rightfully, he was overruled by the two cards that saw the fight to Usyk by 115-112, which was more or less how I saw the fight and a deciding 114-113. A little too close for comfort for justice to prevail. But the right man won. For that, we can be thankful. I can’t make any kind of case for a Fury victory.

Fury lost his unbeaten record and his WBC heavyweight bauble. But after six rounds, he looked in total control after his somewhat shaky start. Pre-fight, I thought Usyk would edge the fight down the stretch as Fury started to fade away, and that was largely how it played out. But Fury, a million miles away from the fighter we saw against Francis Ngannou, gave him the toughest fight of his career. But Usyk is just a special fighter.

After three rounds, Usyk had already got close and found his rhythm and distance, and at the point, I could even see Usyk wearing Fury down in the closing rounds for an inside the distance victory. But Usyk struggled for the three rounds after, and defeat seemed inevitable at the halfway point for the Ukrainian. Fury was enjoying his work. Usyk seemed to be struggling. And fading. But another little twist was coming.

As he did in the rematch with Anthony Joshua, Usyk found something only true champions can find in times of trouble. With defeat staring him squarely the face, Usyk adjusted quite brilliantly and turned the fight right on its head in that sensational fight-changing 9th round.

There is a rematch clause in play. October the intended date. But I do wonder if Usyk will think now enough is enough. Usyk or not, Fury will likely go on regardless. The fight with Joshua will always be there. For many reasons, Fury needs boxing more than Usyk does. But you have to wonder if this was his last great effort. The suspicion about his peak being over might have been answered in Saudi on Saturday night.

But the two great warriors gave us a fight to remember. A historic occasion served up a historic fight. Boxing delivered everything it needed to. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait another twenty-five years for it to do so again.

Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank