“His country is at war…” Tyson Fury bizarrely cites Ukraine war as reason for ‘bias’ towards Oleksandr Usyk after controversial result

Oleksandr Usyk is the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years after a near knockout of Tyson Fury. He ultimately breezed past the lineal champ via a split-decision victory in a 12-round war for the crown. However, the Englishman has doubled down that his initial momentum won him the undisputed title bout.

Usyk bagged 115-112 and 114-113 on the judges’ scorecard. Going 2-1 with 10-9 scorings in the first frames, Tyson Fury sat at 114-113. Usyk, now 22-0-0 (14 KOs), thus won by split decision. With a divisive mobilization law in the Russian-Ukraine war coming into force. Fury jibed this was sympathy scoring. Per a rematch clause, he also demanded a rehash.

I believe I won that fight, I believe he won a few of the rounds, ...but, I won the majority of them...We both put on a good fight. His country is at war, so people are siding with the country at war...Make no mistake, I won that fight in my opinion...I thank Jesus for all the victories he’s given me. We've got a rematch clause...I've had a split decision loss to a good little man... We go back home to our families and we run it back October. Good luck to Oleksandr, well done, God bless you.

Tyson Fury at his post-fight ring interview

As the smaller of the two, Oleksandr Usyk had to put up a mighty defense. Giving the rival a smaller target to connect to, Usyk surged ahead with definitive strikes and blows. However, it wasn’t the canvas seamline that wobbled the Manchester native. With a blistering combo and a fateful left high hook, the Ukrainian caught on and capped off with a huge right. For a moment, it looked like referee Mark Nelson might put a halt.

Instead, Nelson called Usyk out and gave Fury the standing ten count. True to Lennox Lewis’ premonition, Tyson Fury got wobbly-legged and circled, dazed in the ninth round. This proved a pivotal turn. Fury’s -120 bettor’s odds turned null, perhaps due to a hefty curse on him. He gets to run things back soon, probably September onward. Usyk’s IBF and other stipulated straps would see changes. But, for now, he made history.

Boxing world, peers, and pundits react to Oleksandr Usyk’s win at Ring of Fire

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk fought the first undisputed heavyweight title fight of boxing’s four-belt era. In a tightly contested fight, Usyk came on top with a split decision (115-112, 114-113, 114-113). Looking for an apt opening, he came back to take the fight at Rounds 1, 4, 5, 7, and 8 with dominant connects. The 9th and 11th frames went similarly.

Edging towards a grave significance, the combat sports world kept a keen eye on the matter. Here’s how some within the online combat sports community reacted –

The first round saw the much taller Tyson Fury clowning around while Usyk kept looking to open up on Fury. However, in the third, Fury used his reach to take the round. The first clinch happened, favoring Fury’s hulking build. In the fifth, Fury landed uppercuts and kept Usyk at bay. Fury also hurt Usyk with a right uppercut to the chin midway through the sixth.

Consequently, most peers and pundits have remained in awe of the whole discourse. Although a numbers game, it was steering either way up until vital moments. With seemingly everyone weighing in on the massive event, conversely, even staunch supporters of one have congratulated the other. The matter has accordingly garnered much vitality. Following his win, all eyes are on Usyk, who is now part of a long-running legacy.

In case you missed it:

• WATCH: Oleksandr Usyk goes 2v1 in sparring to prepare for Tyson Fury
• Top 10 boxers of the 21st century

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