Usyk defeats Fury to become undisputed heavyweight champion

Oleksandr Usyk (35) has beaten Tyson Fury (37) via a split decision to become the new undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

The Ukrainian edged the bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

115-112, 113-114, 114-113 on the cards following a decisive knockdown in the ninth round.

Usyk is now a two-time heavyweight champion and the first undisputed since Lennox Lewis in 1999.

The size difference between the pair was immediate when both met in the centre and Usyk- light on his feet – negotiated some early testers from Fury.

Fury was quick to come out and play the crowd by moving his hips from side to side while in the corner with Usyk not interested in entertaining.

Usyk started round two quickly with a one-two combination which Fury laughed off before landing a solid variety of shots of his

own.

The shots kept coming at pace from Fury as he fashioned a cut above Usyk’s right eye and the former kept the taunting going in the corner knowing he was ahead.

A now confident Fury made a big impact in the sixth after landing a heavy uppercut and a couple of big body blows, which required Usyk to back away and reset.

The bout opened up in round eight with both fighters hitting heavily as they attempted to wrestle control off of one another.

Fury attacked first before Usyk came back, causing cuts to the nose and left side of his opponent’s head.

But the momentum shifted massively in Usyk’s favour in a brutal ninth round which saw Fury battered around the ring.

The referee called a knockdown after he stumbled on the ropes but was saved by the bell and somehow survived the round.

Usyk- knowing he was now in control – maintained his composure and didn’t target a knockout but continued to inflict damage on Fury, who was looking ever more vulnerable.

Both men came out throwing bombs in the final round, which ended with Fury raising his hand while Usyk dropped to his knees in the centre before embracing his team ahead of the judges’ scorecards.