Oleksandr Usyk secured Tyson Fury’s WBC and lineal titles, becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion by adding them to his already held WBA, IBF, and WBO belts. The last time boxing saw an undisputed heavyweight champion was in 2000 during Lennox Lewis’s reign with three belts.

Usyk is the first undisputed champion of the four-belt era.

Both fighters started with an active jab, but Usyk controlled the pace and landed more significant shots in the first two rounds. He landed a looping left hook on Fury in the first round and began the second round with a solid two-punch combination.

Despite Usyk’s aggression in the third round, Fury found his rhythm by throwing more combinations and landing body shots. Fury stayed busy with his jab, setting up a hard right uppercut in the fourth round and backing Usyk with a powerful right hand to the body.

In the sixth round, a big right uppercut from Fury stunned Usyk, making him cover up briefly. Fury further pressed the attack, taunting Usyk with sharp jabs. Fury landed another impactful right uppercut in the seventh round, but Usyk kept coming forward with straight rights and powerful combinations.

Usyk showed determination in the eighth round by landing a three-punch combination and forcing Fury against the ropes with an overhand left. Usyk continued to land significant punches, including a looping right hand that stunned Fury. As swelling appeared below Fury’s right eye, Usyk dominated the round.

Round 9 was crucial as Usyk came back invigorated, pressuring Fury against the ropes and landing big left hands. Fury was in trouble as Usyk sensed an opportunity and unleashed a flurry of combinations, resulting in a knockdown as the round ended.

Entering Round 10, Usyk kept the pressure on Fury, who seemed dazed from the previous round. Usyk, patient in his approach, continued to control the fight. He maintained his aggression in the 11th round, landing a hard left hand and finishing with a strong right.

Fury mounted a small comeback in the twelfth and final round, but it was too late. Two judges awarded scores of 115-112 and 114-113 in favor of Usyk, while the third judge scored it 114-113 for Fury(Coincidentally this was the WBC judge pick).

By Vincent Quezada

Photos courtesy of DAZN Boxing , Top Rank Boxing