Ukrainian Usik defeated Fury and became the absolute world heavyweight boxing champion

(CNN) — Oleksandr Usyk scored a split decision victory over Tyson Fury to become the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion of the world in a thrilling bout at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh early this Sunday morning.

In the shadow of his powerful opponent, Usyk had to weather a storm mid-fight but came back strong, forcing Fury to a standing count in the ninth round as he battled for victory.

The 37-year-old Ukrainian is the first boxer to hold all four major heavyweight belts simultaneously and the first undisputed champion since the end of Lennox Lewis’s reign in April 2000.

Usyk had the upper hand in the opening rounds before Fury picked up the pace in the fourth, putting on something of a show as he began catching Usyk with vicious body shots, but the Ukrainian responded with some sharp reminders of his power.

Usyk turned the tide of the fight in the eighth round, and few would have been surprised if the referee stopped the fight in the ninth, when powerful blows from the Ukrainian to the head sent Fury staggering.

The previously unbeaten Brit managed to hold out until the bell but struggled throughout the final three rounds of the fight as Usyk hounded him to gain the upper hand on the judges’ scorecards.

“Thank you very much… This is a great opportunity for me, for my family, for my country… This is a great moment, this is a great day,” Usyk said through tears in an interview after the ring fight, adding that it would give Fury an immediate rematch .

In the co-main event, Australia’s Jai Opetaia scored a unanimous decision over Latvia’s Mairis Briedis to win the vacant IBF heavyweight title, while Ireland’s Anthony Cacace scored a TKO victory over Wales’ Joe Cordina to retain his IBO heavyweight title and win IBO world champion title. IBF belt.