Usyk becomes a legend with triumph over Fury.
Ukrainian professional boxer Oleksandr Usyk has claimed the undisputed heavyweight championship title, defeating Briton Tyson Fury in a thrilling unification fight for the world's most important heavyweight titles. The 37-year-old's victory marks the first time since Lennox Lewis 25 years ago that a Ukrainian holds all the significant heavyweight titles. In a twelve-round battle last night, Usyk won on points (115:112, 113:114, 114:113). Dedicating his victory to the Ukrainian soldiers on the front line, Usyk agreed to a potential rematch.
Usyk now owns the world titles of the IBF, WBO, WBA, WBC, and IBO. Fury had been defending the WBC belt. This new accomplishment places Usyk amongst legendary heavyweight champions such as Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, and Max Schmeling.
Usyk's impressive comeback
In front of former world champions Wladimir Klitschko and ANthony Joshua and soccer superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, "the Cat" aimed to utilize his speed advantage against Fury, who is 15 centimeters taller. However, Usyk struggled to capitalize on his speed in the first half of the fight.
The illustrious bout, often referred to as the "Ring of Fire," featured Fury's characteristic pretentious tactics. Usyk remained unaffected and threw numerous body punches. Despite his lesser height, Fury leveraged his powerful right fist and surprising reach to beat up Usyk. Fury dominated portions of the fight with aggressive uppercuts, putting immense pressure on Usyk.
The tide turned in the eighth round, when Usyk effectively used clever punch combinations to give Fury a bloody nose. In the ninth round, Usyk transformed the battle and almost led to an early Fury defeat. Both fighters entered the match with unblemished records. Usyk had taken his world titles from Anthony Joshua in 2021 and successfully defended them against the Brit in 2022. In 2015, Fury had taken the world championship from Wladimir Klitschko. He later relinquished the titles, returned in 2018, and won the WBC title against Deontay Wilder.
Kabayel's world championship fight preparation
Described by many as a century-defining boxing event, the clash between Fury and Usyk was initially scheduled for several times due to financial disputes between the camps and Fury's injuries. This was prior to the main event, where heavyweight boxer Agit Kabayel was one step closer to the realization of his long-awaited first world championship fight. In Riyadh, just a few hours before the Fury and Usyk duel, the German fighter defeated the previously unbeaten Cuban Frank Sanchez in the World Championship eliminator.
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In the world of boxing, Usyk's victory over Fury further solidifies his place among the greats, joining legendary champions like Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson. After a challenging start, Usyk successfully utilized his speed and strategy to turn the tide in their highly anticipated boxing match, known as the "Ring of Fire."
Source: www.ntv.de
