Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs), who entered with the WBA, IBF and WBO belts, captured Tyson Fury’s (34-1-1, 24 KOs) WBC and lineal titles to grow to be undisputed. The final time boxing had an undisputed heavyweight champion was in 2000 (Lennox Lewis, three-belt period).
In a struggle that turned within the ninth spherical, when Usyk practically ended the bout and scored a knockdown, two judges scored the bout 115-112 and 114-113 for Usyk, whereas the third had it 114-113 for Fury.
Each fighters opened the struggle with an lively jab, however Usyk dictated the tempo and had the extra vital pictures within the first two rounds, catching Fury with a looping left hook late in Spherical 1 and starting the second spherical with a stable two-punch mixture.
Usyk continued to press ahead within the third spherical, however Fury started to discover a rhythm, throwing extra mixtures and touchdown good physique pictures regardless of preventing off his again foot. He stayed busy behind his jab and arrange a tough proper uppercut early within the fourth spherical, and dug in a tough proper hand to the physique that made Usyk again up.
A giant proper uppercut shocked Usyk in Spherical 6, visibly hurting him and inflicting him to cowl up momentarily. Fury appeared to get right into a groove, bouncing on his toes and taunting Usyk whereas pumping sharp jabs.
Fury related with one other arduous proper uppercut that made Usyk again up within the seventh spherical, however Usyk saved coming, popping Fury with a straight proper hand and ending the spherical with a mix.
Usyk confirmed his coronary heart and struck again within the eighth, scoring with a three-punch mixture and forcing Fury to again up into the ropes after an enormous overhand left. One other huge two-punch mixture related for Usyk, and he shocked Fury with a looping proper hand within the closing seconds of the spherical, as swelling started to develop under Fury’s proper eye.
Usyk gave the impression to be reinvigorated to open Spherical 9, which was a pivotal one for the Ukrainian. He returned to pressuring Fury and related flush with an enormous left hand with Fury in opposition to the ropes. An enormous left hand had Fury in bother, and Usyk sensed that Fury was damage and went for the end, connecting with a number of arduous mixtures. Fury was visibly damage staggered in opposition to the ropes, and the referee dominated a knockdown because the bell sounded to finish the spherical.
Usyk backed Fury in opposition to the nook as Spherical 10 opened. Fury nonetheless gave the impression to be dazed from the punishment he took within the earlier spherical, however Usyk stayed affected person as a substitute of opening up his assault.
Usyk began aggressively within the eleventh spherical and saved urgent ahead. He caught Fury with one other arduous left hand to the chin, and closed the spherical with an enormous proper.