Usyk stages remarkable return in epic battle of the era
Again, there's a clear heavyweight champion: Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk beats British Tyson Fury in a clash for the most prestigious world titles and writes history. The match undergoes a major twist in the captivating ninth round.
At first, it seemed like Tyson Fury was a gracious loser. He'd never needed to display this attribute before. Tyson Fury, this consistently mischievous heavyweight from England, had previously battled everything small and brief in his career. When the bell rang after the twelfth round of the massive fight against Oleksandr Usyk, Fury embraced his Ukrainian opponent and gave him several kisses on the head. Could he have realized at that moment that he had lost for the first time? It's uncertain. But he definitely had. The match had been irrevocably out of his control since the ninth round. Usyk had trekked back with startling tenacity and was close to pinning the colossal Fury against the ropes.
However, neither of the giants fell. Until the midpoint of the fight, which had been dubbed the "fight of the century," it was Usyk who appeared to be the apparent loser. Fury was hammering his adversary with brutal uppercuts. He took some severe hits, but bore the brunt. And, apparently, fractured his jaw in the process. The Ukrainian later had to go to the hospital with a suspected injury. Usyk did the same as the legendary Muhammad Ali, who once fought Ken Norton with a fractured jaw. An intriguing parallel: Usyk was born on the same day as Ali (17th January), is exactly the same height (1.91 meters), and sports the same reach. The American only possessed a trivial advantage over Usyk in terms of weight.
Fury senses a small conspiracy
The theory that a contender like Ali can't surpass the giants of heavyweight boxing these days -- against Fury, Anthony Joshua, or even the Klitschkos a few years back -- can now be put to rest after this remarkable Saturday evening. With his 22nd victory in his 22nd professional fight, the ex-WBA, WBO, and IBF world champion Usyk reclaimed the WBC title from his opponent. He's now on par with Ali, Mike Tyson, or Max Schmeling, who were also permitted to call themselves the "Undisputed" heavyweight champions. Usyk is also the first fighter since Evander Holyfield to claim the undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight titles. This issues him the highest boxing icon in his nation, even surpassing the legendary Klitschko brothers.
While this evening, or rather night, drew to a conclusion, the same antics resumed with Fury griping about the judges' verdict (115:112 for Usyk, 114:113 for Fury, 114:113 for Usyk). "I feel like I won the match. He won a few rounds, but I won most of them," Fury argued, adding covertly, "His country is at war. People are siding with the war-stricken nation." Fury announced his plans to invoke the rematch clause in the contract. Usyk agreed to the rematch while still in the ring. The rematch is expected to take place in October.
"That was a fight for the annals of history, with the comeback of the year," remarked our ntv.de boxing expert Andreas von Thien. "What a rollercoaster, what ups and downs." In truth, until the eighth round, there was little evidence that Usyk could win this fight. Fury stayed in control and never let his opponent come too close. Yet, the ninth round was unforgettable. "The fight was previously called 'Ring of Fire' and the ring was truly on fire in the ninth round," said von Thien. Suddenly, Usyk was present. A rejuvenation like that's achievable solely by world-class athletes. He put his heart on the line and let his fists fly. He seriously stunned Fury with his left hook.
Referee halts Fury's knockout
By the finish of the eighth round, there were already hints that the balance in the ring was tilting. Fury appeared less agile than before and could no longer make headway with his brutally hard hands. Up until then, Usyk hadn't accomplished much. "He wasn't versatile enough," assessed von Thien, "he possessed no knockout power and permitted himself to be diverted by Fury's antics." But then, unexpectedly, Usyk scored in the eighth round. Fury drew blood for the first time. "That irritated him," said von Thien. Wh wha at transpired following was simply deserving of the annals. The Ukrainian assaulted Fury like an untamed bull. He no longer comprehended what blows he was receiving. He listed and nearly fell. The ref intervened and tabled him. That likely avoided the knockout.
"Usyk required this game-changer, the ninth round. Else, he would have been a sure loser. He correctly unraveled the Fury code and is the worthy victor," concluded the ntv.de expert. "I'm content about the referees' decision and that Usyk wasn't shortchanged in the end. Boxing currently possesses a worthy, titanic champion and can feel like the grand winner of this night in Riyadh". Saudi Arabia is seeking to establish itself as a new home for top boxing as a part of its massive sport-washing initiative.
Emotions ran high following Usyk's victory. This national hero took the chance to speak to his loved ones and country. "This was an incredible chance for me, my family, and Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine," Usyk declared. He gave a shout-out to the soldiers battling the Russian army daily. "I believe my dad is looking down on me and proud," Usyk shared, whose dad tragically passed away in 2012: "Dad, I adore you. I've got this - and you've always believed in me." Undisputed champ, Usyk made history during this extraordinary evening.
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Fury expressed his frustration with the judges' decision, believing he had won more rounds in the epic battle against Usyk. Despite this, he agreed to the rematch clause in their contract, which is scheduled to take place in October.
Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight champion, showcased his boxing skills in the ring, displaying remarkable tenacity and resilience, particularly in the ninth round where he came back from a challenging situation and nearly pinned Fury against the ropes. [Boxing] was the sport that brought these two giants together in a historical clash.
Source: www.ntv.de
