This article requires pre-publication review by an uninvolved reviewer (one not substantially involved in writing the article). –Article last amended: May 19 at 0:57:52 UTC (history) |
| This article requires pre-publication review by an uninvolved reviewer (one not substantially involved in writing the article). –Article last amended: May 19 at 0:57:52 UTC (history) |
Sunday, May 19, 2024
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury in a fierce battle on May 18. The fight lasted 12 rounds and ended with Usik’s victory by decision of the judges. During the fight, Usyk knocked Fury down in the ninth round, but he was able to continue the fight. As a result of the fight, Usik became the first absolute world heavyweight champion in the 21st century.
The Ukrainian inflicted the first defeat in his career on the Briton, without losing even once. Usik captured titles in all four of the most prestigious versions – WBC (taking away from Fury), WBA, WBO and IBF.
A professional twelve-round boxing match for the title of absolute world heavyweight champion was held at the Kingdom Arena football stadium in Riyadh between the WBA Super, IBF, WBO, IBO and The Ring world champion Ukrainian Alexander Usik and the WBC world champion Briton Tyson Fury. The winner of this confrontation became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis and the first holder of this prestigious title in the era of four belts.
Many famous boxers expressed their predictions about this fight. Former champion Lennox Lewis said: “It’s quite difficult to say. I would prefer Fury, but I think that even now Usyk is an underrated boxer. So it will be interesting to see how Fury deals with this.” Mike Tyson: Fury will defeat Usik. Yes, he will beat him.”
Anthony Joshua noted: “I fought Oleksandr Usyk, so I can only speak about what I experienced in the fight with him. A phenomenal fighter does everything the right way. I’d say he’ll do a really good job. I’ve never fought Tyson Fury, so I can’t speak to how he’ll perform or how he’ll counter him. Therefore, speaking only of what I know, I must say that Oleksandr Usyk will win.”
Usik’s former opponent in the first heavyweight division, Tony Bellew, was confident in the Ukrainian’s victory, but at the same time expressed concerns about possible injustice in the judging.
Bookmakers estimated Tyson’s victory with odds ranging from 1.75 to 1.8. The odds for Alexander’s victory were 2.05-2.15. The odds for a draw are about 15.00. After the fight was postponed to February 17, Usik’s victory was 2.03, Fury’s victory was 1.73, and the draw was 17.00. And after the fight was postponed to May 18, 5 weeks before the fight, the odds for the victory of both boxers are equalized and amount to 1.91. At the same time, the odds for a draw remained unchanged.
The Wikinews editor who wrote this news wholeheartedly congratulates Usik on his victory!
