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Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk scorecard: SunSport's round-by-round verdict

18 May 2024 , 23:40
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Here's how SunSport's Chisanga Malata saw the action unfold in Riyadh

OLEKSANDR USYK produced a sensational performance to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the 21st century.

The Ukrainian defeated Tyson Fury via split decision to take the Gypsy King's undefeated record with all of the heavyweight belts on the line.

Tyson Fury took on Oleksandr Usyk for sporting immortality in Riyadh eiqrdidrtirzprw
Tyson Fury took on Oleksandr Usyk for sporting immortality in RiyadhCredit: Reuters
Fury, 35, showboated in the ring
Fury, 35, showboated in the ringCredit: PA

With sporting immortality up for grabs, the night was always going to include fireworks.

Here's how SunSport's Chisanga Malata saw the action unfold.

ROUND ONE

Here we go. Both men look to establish dominance early by taking the centre of the ring.

Paris Fury speaks out on pregnancy 'rumours' in loved up NYE post with TysonParis Fury speaks out on pregnancy 'rumours' in loved up NYE post with Tyson

Fury marches down the Ukrainian, who opens up with a stiff body shot.

The Gypsy King looks massive in comparison to Usyk, who is no dwarf whatsoever.

Usyk is happy to operate on the outside, although the early jab he's eaten will have given him some food for thought.

Fury is trying to draw out attacks from Usyk, who is not putting too much into his punches.

Fury gets backed into the corner and channels his inner Muhammad Ali by doing the rope-a-dope.

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Usyk lands a big overhand left just seconds before backing Fury into the corner.

Fury dodges the ensuing flurry and gestures to the crowd as if demanding them to acknowledge his head movement.

Verdict: Fury 9-10 Usyk

I cancelled 18th birthday party to KO Tyson record as youngest heavyweight kingI cancelled 18th birthday party to KO Tyson record as youngest heavyweight king

ROUND TWO

Usyk opens up the round with a big one-two that snaps back the head of Fury.

Fury tries to make light of it but that combo clearly stunned him.

Usyk is setting the stone and the pressure as he advances forward.

A big uppercut narrowly misses for Fury, who knows all too well that's the shot to deploy on a shorter opponent.

Fury is throwing more punches but isn't being as accurate as Usyk.

Usyk backs up Fury into the corner and lands a good three-punch combo.

But Fury comes roaring back with a hard body shot after circling away from danger.

Fury finally lands an uppercut, albeit to the body of the former cruiserweight king.

That round goes to Fury.

Verdict: Fury 10-9 Usyk

Fury aims a jab at Usyk
Fury aims a jab at UsykCredit: Reuters
The Gypsy King cut a confident figure early on
The Gypsy King cut a confident figure early onCredit: Reuters

ROUND THREE

Fury is on his bike after the restart and lands a stiff straight right from range.

Usyk has decided to close the distance after eating that shot and is going to work on Fury's trimmed-down torso.

A solid overhand left snaps back the head of Fury with just over a minute of the stanza remaining.

Fury lands a good combo with thirty seconds remaining. But he gets pushed back against the ring again and eats another flurry before the bell.

Verdict: Fury 9-10 Usyk

ROUND FOUR

Fury goes to work to the body with two hard shots after the restart.

He's absolutely loving this, dancing around after landing his shots.

But he's still allowing himself to get backed up and invite the pressure from Usyk.

Fury lands a beautiful counter right as Usyk comes forward.

Usyk has his head snapped back by another hellacious uppercut.

Both men nearly land hard back hands before the bell, with Fury narrowly missing an uppercut and Usyk an overhand left.

Verdict: Fury 10-9 Usyk

ROUND FIVE

Usyk takes the centre of the ring after the restart and looks to feint his way into range.

Fury is doing a good job of keeping the Ukrainian at bay when he looks to close the distance.

A rasping uppercut snaps back the head of Usyk.

Fury is hurting Usyk to the body with relentless hooks to the midriff.

Verdict: Fury 10-9 Usyk

The Gypsy King dodges a shot from Usyk
The Gypsy King dodges a shot from UsykCredit: Reuters
Fury had plenty of joy during the first half of the bout
Fury had plenty of joy during the first half of the boutCredit: Reuters

ROUND SIX

Usyk is on the front foot straight after the restart and is looking to put Fury on the back foot again.

A hard body shot to the solar plexus gives Usyk more food for thought.

Fury almost closed the show with a huge uppercut with a minute and a half of the round remaining.

But he finds a home for it 20 seconds later and Usyk is in retreat mode.

Fury closes out the round with a bit of showboating, put his hands behind his back before resting his arms on the ropes.

A huge round for the Wythenshawe warrior.

Fury 10-9 Usyk

ROUND SEVEN

Usyk once again closes the distance after the restart but he's getting picked off at range.

And when he does take a step back, his body is getting blasted by nasty hooks.

Usyk finds a home for his straight left but Fury eats it like a packed lunch made by his loving wife Paris.

Another straight left snaps back the head of Fury, who circles back out of range to try to create space for a body shot

Usyk manages to close the distance with seconds remaining ad finds a home for a two-punch combo.

But Fury manages to circle away to hear the bell.

Verdict: Fury 10-9 Usyk

The Gypsy King had plenty of joy around the mid-stages of the fight
The Gypsy King had plenty of joy around the mid-stages of the fightCredit: Getty
Fury did have to withstand his fair share of pressure
Fury did have to withstand his fair share of pressureCredit: PA

ROUND EIGHT

Fury is happy to operate on the back foot in the eighth and pick his shots.

But he gets his dome rattled by back-to-back straight left hands - which he brushes off before going back to feinting and trying to create space for a body shot.

Usyk briefly finds himself dealing with Fury's weight in the clinch after landing a good straight left.

Fury is bleeding profusely from his nose. I'm not what caused the damage. Big round that for Usyk.

Verdict: Fury 9-10 Usyk

ROUND NINE

Fury is doing a good job of bamboozling Usyk with feints, but the Ukrainian continues to come forward.

But he's slowly but surely allowing the gap to be closed, which leads to him eating a big left hand flush in the corner.

Fury gets hurt and is stumbling around the ring. It was a left hand that did the damage.

Fury doesn't know where he is. He beats the count and the bell thankfully saves him.

Verdict: Fury 8-10 Usyk

Usyk rocked Fury in a dominant ninth round
Usyk rocked Fury in a dominant ninth roundCredit: Reuters
Usyk took control of the fight late on
Usyk took control of the fight late onCredit: Getty

ROUND TEN

Usyk - like the big 'Cat' he is - senses blood and isn't giving Fury any respite.

Fury is barely throwing anything and what he is throwing is telegraphed and slow.

Usyk looks tired, but he needs to keep his foot on the gas pedal if he's to have any chance of becoming a two-weight undisputed champion.

Verdict: Fury 9-10 Usyk

ROUND ELEVEN

A desperate Usyk, spurred on by the plight of his fellow Ukrainians back home, immediately goes to work after the restart.

Fury tries to keep him at bay with the jab but is struggling to pump it out with the stiffness it had in the early rounds.

Usyk briefly traps the WBC king in the corner and lands a rasping left hand.

Usyk doubles up with two left hands that briefly back Fury against the ropes.

The round ends with yet another big overhand left from Usyk.

Verdict: Fury 9-10 Usyk

ROUND TWELVE

The fans in attendance at the Kingdom Arena cheer both warriors on after the final restart of the fight.

Fury is playing matador as Usyk looks to step into range to land his left hand.

And he finds a home for it with a minute and a half of the stanza remaining.

A chopping right hand sends Fury backwards, but he returns fire with a booking shot of his own that backs up the southpaw.

Verdict: Fury 10-9 Usyk

SunSport's score: Fury 113-114 Usyk

Oleksandr Usyk celebrates his incredible victory
Oleksandr Usyk celebrates his incredible victoryCredit: Reuters
Usyk, 37, holds the Ukrainian flag after producing his amazing win
Usyk, 37, holds the Ukrainian flag after producing his amazing winCredit: Getty
Usyk and Fury share a moment of respect at the end of the fight
Usyk and Fury share a moment of respect at the end of the fightCredit: Getty

Chisanga Malata

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