tyson fury has made a sensational claim oleksandr usyk He was awarded a split-decision victory in a world heavyweight title fight ‘because his country is at war.’
Usyk, from Ukraine, was crowned the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world after a fierce battle in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night. Two judges scored the fight 115–113 and 114–113 in favor of Usyk, while the final judge scored it 114–113 for Fury.
It was an explosive fight between the heavyweight giants, with Fury looking to have the advantage during the early rounds, before Usyk fought back late on, landing the Briton with a flurry of punches in the ninth round, prompting the referee to throw the ball. There is no other option left. A permanent count. After the bout, Fury insisted that he had won the fight, claiming that Usyk had only won a few rounds.
‘I believe I won that fight,’ he told DAZN. ‘And I believe he won a few rounds, but I won most of them.’
He added, ‘I believe we both fought well – it was the best we could do. And, you know, his country is at war. People are supporting the country in the war.
Tyson Fury suggested Oleksandr Usyk was awarded a win after their heavyweight title fight ‘because his country is at war’
The Gypsy King made the comments after he suffered a split decision defeat at the hands of the Ukrainian
‘Make no mistake, I won that fight in my opinion.’
It was a historic night for the heavyweight division, with Usyk being crowned the first undisputed champion of the four-belt era, and the first since Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield in 1999.
After the slugfest in Saudi, both fighters showed respect for each other and Fury was seen putting his arm around Usyk’s shoulders inside the ring.
Usyk, who raised the Ukrainian flag after the fight, thanked his team for helping him succeed as he prepared for the rematch.
‘Thank you so much to my team,’ said the new undisputed heavyweight champion. ‘This is a big opportunity for my family, for me, for my country. It’s a great time, it’s a great day.
Usyk (right) made a late comeback in the fight to win against Fury and knocked out the British fighter in the ninth round.
Both fighters traded some brutal blows, with Fury gaining momentum early on.
He further said, ‘Yes, of course. I am ready for the rematch.
The pair are already scheduled to fight again in October, with Fury saying he will return to spend some time with his family before their next meeting.
‘We will go back to our families and I will see him again in October. We’ll go back and rest,’ Fury said.
‘I believe I have won the battle, but I am not going to sit and cry and make excuses. We will run it again in October.
In an exclusive interview with Mail Sport, Usyk said that he wants to give back to those who have suffered from the war in his home country.
The fighters showed respect for each other after the fight, with Fury embracing Usyk after a fierce fight
After being crowned the new undisputed champion, Usyk stood on the ropes and held the flag of Ukraine
Usyk previously spoke about the conflict in his country, saying that when he wakes up in the morning he checks his phone ‘to see how many rockets have fallen’.
His charity, the Usyk Foundation, has launched a major fundraising campaign to raise 1 million euros to buy 50 ambulances to save Ukrainian lives amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Speaking on the conflict he said: ‘My everyday routine starts with picking up the phone and reading the news about how many rockets have fallen on Kiev, Kharkiv and other cities today.
‘Every morning I check to see if all my friends and loved ones are alive and pray for their safety. And that’s how millions of Ukrainians start their day.
‘Before the Undisputed fight, I received many words of support from all over the world. Those words inspire and motivate me.