Oleksandr Usyk's greatness expanded into new territory as he became the undisputed two-division world champion on Saturday night.
Usyk earned a split decision victory in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, handing Tyson Fury the first loss of his professional career. It was a display of smart mid-fight adjustments and a reminder that Usyk is flouting heavyweight convention when needed.
The Ukrainian fighter won all four belts in six heavyweight bouts. Usyk, who stepped up from cruiserweight in 2019 to become the division's undisputed champion, has struggled with his notion that he is too small or a big man at a lower weight afraid of mixing it up with the giants. was wiped away.
Usyk lost 40 pounds before the fight, even though he weighed a career-high 223.5 pounds. Fury competed at his lightest weight in five years, but he still weighed much more at 262 pounds.
Usyk was at a 6-inch disadvantage against Fury, but while Fury focused a key part of his game plan on continuing to fight at range, Usyk won by doing what he always does: planned – all physical inferiority was wasted.
Fury tried to use his size to keep Usyk away (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Usyk, 37, defeated Anthony Joshua twice to win the IBF, WBA and WBO titles, and also won the WBC belt after defeating Fury. He is the first heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion 25 years ago.
Usyk claims his 2012 Olympic gold medal win was the pinnacle of his career and the highlight of his amateur career, but what happened in Riyadh proves to be the victory that will define his legend. It's going to happen.
The Ukrainian has elevated himself to the pinnacle of all-time greatness. All of his championship wins across two divisions have come on the road, often on enemy territory and against a backdrop of adversity. against the favorites and ostensibly intimidating atmosphere of his home city. Fighting in Saudi Arabia against Fury, an expert in the psychological dark arts who drives his opponents crazy, would have been one of Usyk's more impressive outings.
A battle between two high-level thinkers in the ring is always full of ups and downs, and it comes down to who can make the most effective adjustments. Usyk applied pressure early on, but he found himself stepping on Fury's double feints and backhand punches. He needed to turn the tide.
Usyk's in-game adjustments were crucial (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Fury was gaining the upper hand by the midway point, getting into a rhythm on the back foot and making a seven-inch reach advantage count. The 35-year-old hurt Usyk with a sharp right uppercut in the sixth round, successfully targeting the body – a weak spot for the Ukrainian, who had dropped down after being knocked down by a low blow in his last bout against Daniel Dubois and current unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev in the amateurs.
Usyk did not have his usual spring. He complained about the low blows and stopped throwing punches at Fury, a sign that the returned damage was having an impact. Afterwards, Usyk was rushed to a nearby hospital with a suspected broken jaw.
But just as he did successfully in the rematch with Joshua, Usyk made adjustments to halt the momentum. He landed a low jab to Fury's stomach and readjusted his straight left hand from a southpaw stance, making Fury hesitant to come forward and impose his strength and size on Usyk.
Wisk, a former cruiserweight, landed a decisive left punch and right hook in the eighth round that left Fury with a gash under his right eye. This signaled a shift in momentum, and in the next round, Wisk delivered a powerful straight left as Fury retreated, creating the decisive moment of the fight.
Fury has been like this several times throughout his career, but never in a situation where his legs betray him so clearly and he stumbles around the ring, only being held up by the ropes.
(Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Referee Mark Nelson gave Fury a standing count, and the final bell saved Fury from further Usyk onslaught. At this point, Whisk was struggling with authority and refused to let it go. He continued to apply careful pressure to his paw, but Fury, despite relying on his miraculous powers of recovery, pushed himself over the edge.
Usyk changed levels, unleashing a sharp left hand and using his trademark footwork to pressure Fury and close the distance. Usyk didn't fight like the “little guy” that Fury described in his build-up, but like a champion who outsmarted and defeated every fighter that came in his way.
Usyk defeated Fury, winning 115-112, 113-114, 114-13 on the judges' scorecards. The loser still has the option of a rematch clause, and Fury later spoke in the ring, admitting he wanted to activate the second fight, scheduled for October.
Winning the greatest award in boxing history and one of the most prestigious titles in the sport deserves that seminal moment. Usyk was already the greatest cruiserweight of all time, but he will now be considered one of the greatest boxing fighters of all time at any weight.
(Top photo: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
