Oleksandr Usyk claimed the WBC belt from Tyson Fury in a thrilling split decision victory at the Kingdom Arena, cementing his status as the undisputed heavyweight champion and making boxing history.
Oleksandr Usyk became the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion after defeating Tyson Fury via split decision in a thrilling match held at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 18, 2024. The fight saw 37-year-old Usyk, who already held the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles, claim Fury’s WBC belt, making him the first boxer in two decades to hold all four major heavyweight belts simultaneously.
Usyk, who was significantly smaller compared to the towering Fury, started strong, winning the early rounds. Fury, employing his trademark showmanship, rallied in the middle part of the bout, using body shots to his advantage. However, Usyk turned the tide in the eighth and ninth rounds, nearly knocking Fury out and forcing the referee to administer a standing count for the British fighter.
The judges’ scorecards read 115-112 and 114-113 for Usyk, while one judge scored the fight 114-113 for Fury. The back-and-forth nature of the contest left spectators in awe as Usyk’s endurance and power ultimately prevailed.
In a post-fight interview, an emotional Usyk thanked his team and country, pledging to offer Fury an immediate rematch. Fury, who experienced his first professional defeat, expressed confidence that he had won the majority of the rounds and announced his intention to exercise the rematch clause.
The victory solidified Usyk’s legacy as a historic figure in boxing, echoing the achievements of past legends in the sport’s most prestigious division. The rematch is tentatively scheduled for October 2024.