Tyson Fury faced a dramatic defeat in Saudi Arabia, losing to Oleksandr Usyk by split decision, marking the end of Fury’s undefeated streak in his 16-year professional boxing career. Usyk’s victory at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena crowns him as the first four-belt undisputed heavyweight champion.
The bout, highly anticipated and legacy-defining, saw Fury start strong but falter in the ninth round, where he was saved by the bell after a fierce Usyk onslaught. The judges’ scorecards read 115-112 and 114-113 in favor of Usyk, with one judge scoring 114-113 for Fury.
Despite the loss, Fury, 35, will have a chance to reclaim his title with a rematch scheduled for later this year. “I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won the majority,” a defiant Fury stated in the ring. “It was one of the daftest decisions in boxing. I’ll be back.”
Usyk, a former undisputed cruiserweight champion, dominated in the latter half of the fight, solidifying his status as one of the all-time greats in boxing. The event drew a crowd of 20,000, including notable personalities like Cristiano Ronaldo, who came alive for the main event despite a lackluster undercard.
Usyk’s victory adds the WBC belt to his WBA, WBO, and IBF titles, maintaining his unbeaten record. “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. “Yes, of course. I am ready for a rematch.”
