Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk: Live round-by-round updates
The Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk fight will finally answer a long-asked question about who reigns supreme at the top of boxing's heavyweight division. The bout, which takes place later this evening, will feature two of the sport's most heralded unbeaten fighters, especially Fury, who has developed a massive fanbase.
The matchup, hosted at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is pivotal, having heavy implications for the legacies of both men. They will put not only their undefeated records on the line, but every championship belt available in their weight class, with Fury reigning as the WBC heavyweight champion.
Usyk, meanwhile, will be defending his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles, hoping to extend his 21-0 record to 22-0 with a win. Meanwhile, Fury, whose record is 34-0-1, will be looking to erase the memory of his subpar performance against Francis Ngannou.
Ahead of their bout, which is scheduled for 12 rounds, 'The Gypsy King' is a minor -120 favorite, while his Ukrainian foe is a +100 underdog, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
Follow Sportskeeda for live updates and play-by-play analysis of this year's biggest heavyweight clash.
Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk
Round 1:
The first round is underway. Both men meet in the center, feinting as Usyk lands a body jab. Fury fires back with one of his own, before the Ukrainian slips a follow-up to the head. Usyk applies heavy pressure, landing to the body, before Fury retreats to establish some distance. Lots of feinting and pawing.
They clinch for a split second before Usyk breaks off but maintains pressure. Another jab to the body for Usyk. He's finding a home for them as he backs Fury up to the ropes. 'The Gypsy King' taunts and dances on the ropes, but Usyk doesn't bite, before landing a right hand to end the antics.
Fury with a hard body shot. Usyk tries to unload with a combination, but Fury slips and weaves, showboating for the crowd to end the round.
Round 2:
Usyk applies immediate pressure, landing a hard straight left that sends Fury stumbling to the ropes. The Englishman responds with a taunt, circling along the ropes, but Usyk sticks to him like glue, feinting and cutting off his angles before landing a stiff jab to the body.
Fury almost intercepts Usyk's level change with an uppercut, but barely misses. Usyk is back on the front foot, backing Fury up, landing a quick one-two. Fury appears to be struggling with Usyk's quickness and activity. They reset at the center, Fury lands a right hand, but is quickly backed up.
He dissuades the Ukrainian's pressure with a hard right to the body. Usyk storms forward and gets sniped by a counter uppercut as he dips for what seemed like a body jab to the end the round.
Round 3:
Usyk on the front foot again, backing Fury up. However, the Englishman circles back to the center, landing a stiff jab. Usyk, though, is back on the pressure, feinting as Fury tries to counter him on his way in. The Ukrainian starts investing to the body again, this time with hooks to accompany his jabs.
Back in the center, they're feinting, before Usyk backs Fury up again. 'The Gypsy King' clinches to get some reprieve, before the referee forces a break. Fury smothers a Usyk flurry with another clinch, before stumbling him with a hard shot. Backing Fury up to the ropes, Usyk unloads with a hard combination.
The round ends with a clinch, a break, and Usyk complaining about shots to the back of the head.
Round 4:
Usyk back on the pressure, forcing Fury back to the ropes with combinations. The Ukrainian doesn't let up, staying on the front foot as Fury tries to land counters, finding a home for a check hook. Nothing, though, keeps Usyk away for long.
Fury taunts, Usyk lunges, but as both men duck, there's a brief, accidental clash of heads. The Ukrainian comes forward again, Fury intercepts him with a jab, but Usyk keeps pressuring him, landing a hard left to the body. Fury lands a hard right hook, but Usyk keeps coming forward, ending the round with activity.
Round 5:
As he has for every round so far, Usyk is heavy on the pressure, keeping Fury on the backfoot. The Ukrainian lands to the body, but Fury backs him up with a combination to the body. Fury seems to be finding his range, sniping his foe repeatedly.
Now Fury's on the front foot, landing a body jab. Usyk comes forward, Fury throws to the body, landing on the groin, much to Usyk's annoyance. Fury lands a counter over one of Usyk's punches, but the Ukrainian's pressure is endless. They end the round feinting and exchanging against the ropes.
Round 6:
Fury intercepts a Usyk level change with an uppercut, but is quickly against the ropes. The Ukrainian lands a quick straight left, his movement still sharp as he cuts off Fury's angles of escape. 'The Gypsy King' clinches and shoves Usyk away to ward off the pressure.
Usyk, however, is back on the pressure almost immediately. Fury stumbles him with an uppercut. He throws a combination before appearing to briefly stun the Ukrainian with another uppercut. Fury is on the front foot now, landing hard to the body. Before long, Usyk snaps his opponent's head back with a jab.
Usyk comes forward, eating an uppercut to the body. He comes forward again, and the round ends with Fury landing to the body.
Round 7:
Usyk backs Fury up with a body jab, but the Englishman responds with an uppercut, which has been successful in most cases. Fury ups the volume, storming forward with combinations before bullying Usyk to the ropes. Usyk takes a deep breath, but doesn't stop pressuring, still active.
Usyk with a right hook to the body, backing Fury up. A jab to the body for Usyk, but as he appears ready to dip low for another, he's stung by a Fury uppercut. Usyk responds with a hard jab. He's backing Fury up, raising a high guard against Fury's combinations. Usyk clips Fury with another combination before the round ends.
Round 8:
Fury starts the round aggressive with a combination. Usyk responds in kind, but neither man's combination lands. They're at the center, before the Ukrainian snaps Fury's head back with a straight left. Usyk follows up with a body shot, keeping Fury on the backfoot.
They clinch and Fury leans over him before the referee intervenes. They reset and Usyk lands to the body. They box along the ropes, with Usyk heavy on the front foot. Usyk is bleeding, but lands a hard overhand right that snaps Fury's head to the side. The round ends with both men bruised and covered in blood.
Round 9:
Usyk starts the round with his trademark pressure, jabbing to Fury's body. The Englishman tries to circle out into the center, but his opponent cuts him off. Fury's nose is bloody as he eats several jabs, his face is wearing the damage with welts around his eyes. He lands a nice counter down the middle though.
Usyk's pressure is relentless, forcing a clinch from Fury. They break and Usyk backs him up again, landing more frequently now. Fury is starting to fatigue, and eats some big shots from a combination against the ropes. He dissuades Usyk's pressure with some hard shots to the body.
However, Usyk is back on the front foot and hurts Fury badly against the ropes. Fury's rocked and stumbling across the rings, with only the ropes keeping him up. The referee steps in to give him a standing count, and the round ends with a rocked Fury.
Round 10:
Fury's movement seems labored and he's immediately backed up as Usyk snaps his head back with several jabs. Fury swings and misses with a telegraphed check hook. Usyk stabs him to the body with a jab, before unloading with a combination over the top. He's gained Fury's respect.
They circle to the center, Fury lands a jab but eats a straight left and is back in the corner, where he eats a one-two. Usyk starts taunting him. A body jab lands for Usyk, whose pressure has been constant throughout. Fury lands with a good right, but it had no effect on the Ukrainian.
Usyk lands a hard right hand and appears to be in the driver seat. Fury backing up, and the round ends with his output low.
Round 11:
Usyk immediately backs Fury up to the ropes, forcing a clinch. The referee separates them, but the Ukrainian is back on the pressure. He lands half of his one-two, backing Fury up again. Fury's volume has decreased significantly, as Usyk punishes him with hooks to the body before landing over the top.
Fury answers with a body shot. He tries to bully him in the clinch but Usyk breaks free and lands to the head. Fury backing up but lands a hard uppercut. Usyk eats it though. The Ukrainian is relentless. The round ends with Usyk landing a hard left hook.
Round 12:
Usyk with pressure to start the round, Fury clinches. They break. Usyk is the fresher of the two, still backing Fury and landing. The Englishman has slowed down considerably but is still fighting back. Usyk stumbles him with a straight left.
The round ends with Fury showboating and Usyk throwing.
Official Decision: Oleksandr Usyk def. Tyson Fury via split decision after 12 rounds (115-112, 113-114, 114-113).
Oleksandr Usyk defends his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles, while capturing Tyson Fury's WBC title to become the division's undisputed champion.