Fury vs Usyk live updates (2024)

Oleksandr Usyk became boxing’s first four-belt undisputed heavyweight champion with a thrilling split decision victory over Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Usyk seized control of the pulsating fight in the ninth round, when he came close to finishing Fury. The Briton survived a standing 10 count and made it to the end of the fight, only to lose the decision. Usyk won 115-112 and 114-113 on two scorecards while the third judge saw it as 114-113 against him.

The decision saw 35-year-old Fury lose for the first time in a 16-year professional career. But he will get an immediate opportunity for revenge with a rematch planned for later this year.

“I believe I won that fight,” Fury said in the ring afterwards. “I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won the majority. It was one of the daftest decisions in boxing. I'll be back. The good little man got the decision.”

Anon: “Fury needs to retire with some grace. His comment on the judges siding with Usyk because of the war was tasteless.”

Dmitrij S: “Deserved win by Usyk, but that shouldn’t be a split decision.”

Nathan K: “Astonishing performance from Usyk. Surely cements his place as a generational great. Fury boxed brilliantly from 3-6 but seemed to run out of steam while Usyk seemed to find another gear (a bit like the second AJ fight). They need to investigate the judge that gave Fury the win…”

“I feel good. A lot of people prayed for me, I love you. I’m very happy.

“My people will be very happy I think, it's a big win, not only for me, it's a big win for my country, for soldiers who now defend my country.

“I think my father now is watching over me and is very happy. Dad, I love you. I can, you told me I can.”

Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, has also suggested there will be an immediate rematch.

“I'm exhausted, I was backing Usyk the whole fight. No disrespect to the referee, I think he stopped the KO in the ninth. It was a tremendous performance, something unbelievable.

“I hope to see more in the rematch.”

Frank Warren, Tyson Fury’s promoter, has said the rematch with Oleksandr Usyk will happen in October.

“It's his call, whatever Tyson wants to do it's up to him.

“The clause in the contract says immediate rematch.”

Tyson Fury has claimed he won the fight and said the judges sided with Oleksandr Usyk because “his country is at war”.

He tells DAZN: “I believe I won that fight. His country is at war so people are siding with someone whose country is at war.

“I believe he won a few rounds but I won more of them.

"Make no mistake I won that fight and I'll be back. We go back to our families and we run it back in October.

“I not going to sit here and cry and make excuses.”

We go to the scorecards.

115-112 Usyk. 114-113 Fury. 114-113 Usyk.

Oleksandr Usyk is boxing’s first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999.

Here we go. Tyson Fury needs something huge here.

Oleksandr Usyk isn’t just going to gift him that opportunity, though. He lands that overhand left again, and that’s the shot that Fury has completely failed to fend off all evening.

Fury lands a couple of right hands in the centre of the ring but there’s really not much behind these shots any more.

Into the final minute … Fury lands a counter right-hand which Usyk ducks onto and the Ukrainian wobbles! Fury needs to step forward, but it looks as though he’s completely out on his feet. He fails to press onwards and Usyk recovers.

The bell rings. It’s all over. Oleksandr Usyk has won this fight.

Wow, Oleksandr Usyk comes haring out! He backs Tyson Fury up onto the ropes in an attempt to keep the pressure on.

Fury is back to boxing from behind his jab but he needs more than that. It seems as though he is attempting just to get to the final round before going for it.

Usyk isn’t taking his foot off the gas, which is wise. He lands another solid left, this time to the body, and is refusing to allow Fury to regroup.

Fury is still looking for that uppercut but Usyk is wise to that shot now.

Fury does catch Usyk with a right hand to the body, though, which finally brings an end to Usyk’s endless march forward. Or does it? After taking a moment the Ukrainian darts forward yet again, landing a left hook upstairs before the bell. This is his fight to lose.

Oleksandr Usyk is one clean punch away from winning this.

Tyson Fury still looks fairly unsteady on his legs and Usyk is desperately attempting to find the finish. Fury finally begins spitting out his jab again, but Usyk isn’t bothered and traps him in the corner.

Fury works his way out but he looks so vulnerable … He’s desperately trying to stay out of trouble until he fully recovers from that previous round.

He largely manages to do that and sees it through until the bell. But it’s another lost round and he likely now needs to stop Usyk in the next six minutes.

Four rounds to go. And Tyson Fury’s face is now fairly marked up. His nose is bloodied and there’s damage around both eyes.

Fury needs to find something here. He tries to reestablish his jab, working on the inside, but Oleksandr Usyk is starving him of space, keeping busy.

And then two big left hands from Usyk! Fury felt that and smiles at his opponent. He fires back, trying the uppercut again, only to miss.

Usyk then tries that overhand left once again .. and it lands flush! Fury is rattled and he’s weaving all over the ring! Usyk attacks, looking for the finish, but Fury somehow avoids any further punishment. But he’s out on his feet!

Usyk catches up with him and unloads, and Fury sinks back into the ropes. The referee dives in to administer the count, as it’s clear that only the ropes have held Fury up there.

He survives until the end of the round but can he survive for much longer?!

A good start from Oleksandr Usyk, who plants his feet and strings together a combination, firing in shots on both wings. Tyson Fury doesn’t like that at all, and backs off.

They come together in the middle of the ring and Usyk again complains to the referee that Fury has caught him below the belt. But, once again, the ref isn’t having any of it.

Stung, Usyk tries to pin Fury in the corner and briefly lets his hands go. He lands a big overhand right which connects, although Fury shrugs it off. But blood is now streaming from Fury’s nose.

It feels as though that was another important momentum shift. Usyk appears to be back in control!

Tyson Fury is in control and he’s taking his time. He lets Oleksandr Usyk come out quickly before clinching, making his weight advantage count on the ropes.

But he still has to be careful, as a Usyk potshot sneaks through his guard.

It’s a better few seconds for Usyk … but Fury hurts Usyk with a chopping right hook which lands flush on the Ukranian’s chin. Fury then goes back to the body, but Usyk connects with a left uppercut of his own.

That was a brilliant round and utterly impossible to score. Really courageous from Usyk after a difficult couple of rounds.

A quicker start from Oleksandr Usyk, who needs to up the ante after a difficult couple of rounds. He gets back in front of Tyson Fury but the Brit is looking more and more comfortable. He finally lands an uppercut and that frees up space to go downstairs. Fury lands a body shot which winds Usyk and the momentum is now well and truly with Fury.

Fury repeats the trick. An uppercut. Followed by a body shot. And that’s rocked Usyk.

The Ukrainian quickly recovers and gets back to work behind his jab. But Fury is a wily old customer. He knew not to rush in. He’s breaking his opponent down.

A small cut has opened up above Oleksandr Usyk’s right eye. His cutman quickly gets to work and, as it stands, it doesn’t look too serious.

Tyson Fury continues to grow into this and he begins the round by landing a short right hand which checks Usyk’s progress. He follows it up with a left to the body and could Usyk possibly be hurt?

Fury then goes low, which Usyk doesn’t like and the referee briefly stops the fight. But Fury escapes without a telling off.

Fury is repeatedly targeting Usyk’s body, though. It’s a sensible target given Usyk’s only struggles against Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua.

Tyson Fury makes a decidedly quicker start to this round, breaking Oleksandr Usyk’s rhythm by landing first. Usyk again pins Fury into the corner but, this time, Fury is able to sidestep his way out of trouble.

Fury lands an uppercut. And then switches to southpaw. And then throws in some showboating to boot, first whirring up a punch and then clasping his hands behind his back. But the pair then clash heads, which puts a stop to all of that.

Fury is definitely looking more comfortable, though, and this is his best round of the fight. Usyk again pushes him back but this time Fury elects simply to punch his way out of trouble.