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6 months ago
25
The Road to Undisputed ended for the Gypsy King in a headlong crash into Olexander Usyk’s singular personification of Ukraine’s defiance on the battlefield.
A Fight For Any Century ended in as close a defeat for Tyson Fury as it is possible for three judges to score.
At the end of the most mind-boggling fight of two halves it was 114-113 on two cards, and 115-112 on the other. Neither of these heroes deserved to lose but it was to Fury’s despair that two of them were in favour of the man who came back from the point of no return. There will be another return in the ring.
A rematch is in the contract. It is inevitable in the demand of the public. Never has a second edition been so needed. It will thrill us all again in October.
At the climax to this first fight, which will echo down the halls of fame as long as two-men are prepared to raise their fists to each other boxing, finally delivered not only a night of violent splendour but the new undisputed world heavyweight champion for which boxing had waited 25 years.
Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury by the narrowest of margins to become undisputed heavyweight champion
Fury was left devastated at the final bell after losing his unbeaten record in Riyadh
The ninth round proved decisive as Usyk battered Fury around the ring, forcing the referee to administer a count after the ropes kept Fury up
Usyk had to dig very deep after a tough start to the fight, but came on strong in the second half of the fight
The long reign of Lennox Lewis is over but it is not an Englishman hungry for the succession who has claimed his throne. It is a man who was refusing to lose for his country.
Usyk came to glory waving that yellow and blue standard, by courtesy of the ninth round. His comeback from Fury’s total domination of the first six rounds included rocking Fury so close to a knock-out he was spared by the American referee giving him a standing count because the ropes held him up. The count was eight, the score for the ninth, 8 to 10 against Fury.
Fury had outboxed the technical maestro and taunted him for six rounds. Usyk simply refused to concede in will or body. As if switching time he pounded Fury from them on.
He was level by the end of the eleventh. Fury staggered out of a fog to make a fight of the last. Had the judges agreed with my scoring it as even it would have been a draw. No-one would have liked that but it would have seemed right. But Fury’s undefeated record has gone. Not Usyks.
How fight day played out
Fight day dawned on an embarrassment. Usyk's official weight was revised downwards by ten pounds.
The predictors and the oddsmakers went into a tizzy. So he wouldn't be slowed down, then?
But would he be even easier for Fury to push around?
Was it all mind games? A conspiracy even?
Behave. In all probability it was a mistake. Fabled ring announcer Michael 'Rumble' Buffer is 79 now. Could he have heard 223lbs as as 233? Every chance.
Usyk's weight was read out incorrectly on Friday night, which only became clear on Saturday morning
It was a rare mistake by Michael Buffer and left fans wondering how Usyk would actually approach the fight
If Tyson was fazed by it he's not the Fury we know. And some of us love. Anyway, as he told us at the weigh-in, it's Usyk's heart he would be going after. Not his muscle.
Not that the royal Saudi rulers would have been too happy. Riyadh, as the new capital of heavyweight boxing, is still learning the ropes.
The good people here are still being introduced to the delights of boxing.
This fight would have sold out Wembley Stadium twice over. Tickets for the Kingdom Arena were of the 20 dollars order. To even get close to filling it must have required a few invitations it would have been insulting to refuse.
But for a couple of thousand of Fury's fellow travellers the atmosphere might have been all curiosity.
Then again, but for the Saudi wealth it is quite possible none of us would have been watching this fight. Ballpark purses of £100 million for Fury, £35 million for Usyk were too good to turn down.
Unperturbed, the unbeaten twosome got ready. The first sighting of Usyk on the giant screen showed he had left the air conditioned arena to warm up in the evening heat of a courtyard.
He came in to join the chilled celebrities. They included heavyweight royalty Lewis, Holyfield, Larry Holmes, David Haye and Anthony Joshua.
Anthony Joshua (left) and Cristiano Ronaldo (right) watched on from ringside
Lennox Lewis (left) and Evander Holyfield (right) were also in attendance
Usyk made his way to the ring in a historic military commander's uniform
Fury danced his way to the ring, taking in the adulation of the crowd
Oh and by the way Cristiano Ronaldo, who earns less in a year playing football here than Fury is banking for this one night’s work.
A stupendous sound, light and fire show as well as a dramatic rock performance supercharged the hall.
Uasyk marched in stern and strong in an historic military commander’s uniform. Fury came dressed ready for work but expending energy on a hyper shadow boxing and prancing exhibition.
Both these religious men crossed themselves several times. Let battle commence.
JEFF POWELL'S SCORECARD
Round 1 - Fury took charge of the early exchanges with his telescopic left jab. He even show-boated in a corner after evading one Usyk advance and danced clear after being clipped.
Fury 10-9 Usyk
Round 2 - Usyk opened up the second with a crisp one-two. Fury went back to the jab and took the second despite being tagged just before the bell.
Fury 10-9 Usyk
Round 3 - Fury was restored to the days of his prime. Jab sharp. Movement fluid. Too big to catch with anything hurtful.
Fury 10-9 Usyk
Round 4 - Such was Fury’s command that he was outboxing the master technician.
Fury 10-9 Usyk
Fury appeared in control early on and even produced some showboating in the corner
Round 5 - Fury checked out Usyk’s alleged weakness in the body and was warned for one low blow as Usyk complained. But the Ukrainian’s biggest problem was a cut by the right eye, which may have been caused by a clash of heads in the preceding round.
Fury 10-9 Usyk
Round 6 - The crowd were willing Usyk to get into the fight but he was being overwhelmed. This was becoming a phenomenal performance by the Gypsy King. He was picking his man off at will and taunting him into the bargain.
Fury 10-9 Usyk
Round 7 - Half way and Usyk yet to win a round. He needed one now not to be beyond recovery on points and stole this one with powerful finish after catching Fury play-acting.
Fury 9-10 Usyk
Round 8 - Could Usyk be getting back into this. A huge effort from him is rewarded by landing several left hooks which had Fury holding and leaning for the first time 9-10
Fury 9-10 Usyk
Round 9 - Astonishing effort by Usyk. Fury reels from those huge lefts, slumps against the ropes and is saved by a standing eight-count, then the bell.
Fury 8-10 Usyk
Usyk turned the fight in his favour with a huge left hand that rocked Fury badly
Round 10 - Fury boxing on fumes. Usyk now doing the taunting.
Fury 9-10 Usyk
Round 11 - What a fight of two halves. Fury’s power has left his punches. He hangs on again. They are now incredibly level on my card going into the last.
Fury 9-10 Usyk
Round 12 - Fury makes his last stand. His rights equal Usyk’s lefts. The last is even. If the judges agree….its a draw.
Fury 10-10 Usyk
Final verdict: Fury 114-114 Usyk
English (US)