Author: quyen1

After months of build-up, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will finally compete for the undisputed heavyweight title in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.

The Gypsy King brings his WBC belt to the table and with it, one of the most lucrative careers of the modern era, as he prepares to take on his Ukrainian counterpart.

It’s a bout that has been in the pipeline for quite some time, after their originally scheduled fight in February was postponed when Fury sustained a ‘freak’ cut in training.

After recovering from that injury, Fury now has the chance to become the unified heavyweight champion which, at one point, looked like an impossible task.

Here, Mail Sport looks at the troubled road that Fury has taken in the lead up to the highly-anticipated Saudi Arabia showdown.

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Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will compete for the undisputed heavyweight title on Saturday

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It’s a remarkable achievement for Fury, who once looked as though his boxing career was over

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The Gypsy King was bubbling over in anticipation of the landmark clash on Friday evening

Oleksandr Usyk or Tyson Fury: Boxing personalities place their bet

His downfall began less than a year after the historic defeat, in 2015, of the then undisputed heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko that propelled the Gypsy King into the global spotlight. Within days of claiming the title, Fury was in trouble.

Read More

The people’s champion? Tyson Fury is more like a circus clown, writes RIATH AL-SAMARRAI

In an exclusive interview with the Mail on Sunday, Fury unleashed a quasi-religious diatribe which outraged even the most loyal of his fans.

‘There are only three things that need to be accomplished before the Devil comes home,’ he announced. ‘One of them is homosexuality being legal in countries, one of them is abortion and the other one’s paedophilia.’

He added: ‘When I say paedophiles can be made legal, it sounds like crazy talk, doesn’t it? But back in the Fifties and early Sixties, for them first two to be made legal would have been looked on as a crazy man again.’

In the following weeks, more than 120,000 people signed a petition calling for him to be disqualified from BBC Sports Personality of the Year. He apologised, insisting his comments were ‘tongue-in-cheek’.

But later he caused further offence when he posted an interview on YouTube, speaking out against ‘Zionist, Jewish people’ who ‘own all the banks, all the papers, all the TV stations’.

He gave up training and soon pictures emerged of Fury appearing bloated, having put on a considerable amount of weight.

At the time he had ballooned to 27 stone, a colossal weight even for someone of his 6ft 9 stature, after spiralling into depression, drug and alcohol addiction, and self-inflicted opprobrium with homophobic, sexist and anti-Semitic pronouncements.

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The interview with the Mail on Sunday that sparked outrage weeks before the fight in Germany

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Fury suffered from depression and contemplated suicide during his dark days away from ring

Fury still had further to fall. He tested positive for the steroid nandrolone, and although he denied taking the banned substance – claiming that eating meat from an uncastrated boar was to blame – he agreed to a two-year suspension that he had effectively already served by the time the UK Anti-Doping agency had reached the decision.

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EXCLUSIVE

 Oleksandr Usyk reveals his brutal training regime fighting 40 strangers over 250 rounds ahead of Tyson Fury fight, and breaks down in tears over his dying father’s inspirational final words as he invites Mail Sport into his inner sanctum

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine in 2016 he admitted he had been snorting cocaine, drinking daily and getting ‘as fat as a pig’.

‘I couldn’t put into words what I went through,’ Fury told Joe Rogan during an appearance on his podcast. ‘I didn’t care about nothing… I just wanted to die’.

One night he drove his Ferrari towards a bridge at 190mph, determined to fulfil his wish — only to have a last-minute change of mind.

‘I heard a voice saying, “don’t do this. You’re going to destroy your family’s lives”,’ he would later recall, admitting he had told his wife Paris not to expect him back at home.

The damage Fury was doing to himself took its toll on those closest to him, too.

‘(I told him) if you can’t get your act together, in 10 years’ time when it’s all over and you’ve ruined your life, you’ll look in the mirror and you will commit suicide. You won’t think about it,’ John Fury remembered.

‘I said: “Listen if you’re going to carry on being like this, I’m not going to spend any more time with you”.’

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The 31-year-old conquered his demons and shed the required weight for his stellar comeback

Fury’s dad on son mental health: ‘He had big mood swings’

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Fury previously shared a series of photos to demonstrate his sensational body transformation, from piling on the pounds (top left) to his eventual top fighting shape (bottom right)

Fuelling his escapades was a sense of injustice. Fury had toppled the heavyweight king but hadn’t received the credit he felt he deserved.

‘He thought he was going to come round Manchester on an open-top coach, be invited everywhere, probably get one of those medals off the Queen,’ his father once said. ‘It’s unfinished business… he won the battle but lost the war.’

Fury claims his comeback began when he left a Halloween party for a tear-filled reconciliation with God.

He then hired Ben Davison as his new trainer and went in search of the heavyweight title once more.

Many, including his wife Paris, assumed it was another false dawn but brother Tommy Fury claimed the Gypsy King became ‘a completely different person’.

‘He’s changed in every aspect,’ half-brother Tommy Fury once claimed. ‘If you were around him a year and a half, two years ago… it’s a completely different person.’

‘He’s in a different place now,’ Fury Snr also said. ‘He woke up to life, to take life as it is and realise that you’re in a minefield out there — not everyone is going to like you, no matter what you do.’

After turning his life around, Fury made his return to the boxing ring in 2018 when he took on Sefer Seferi and produced a stunning performance to re-ignite his career.

Since then, the heavyweight star has seldom looked back and has continued to rise to the point of challenging for the unified heavyweight title.

He has become one of very few athletes to speak openly about depression, a move friends and family believe has ‘opened doors’ for others and earned him the acceptance he always craved.

‘There were more haters than there were lovers,’ Tommy said. ‘But now he’s been through what he has and people have seen it, I think those haters have turned into fans.’

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Fury started his dedicated training camp for the undisputed title fight earlier this week

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Fury also puts in a considerable amount of effort into his arm workouts – including 50kg rows

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Tommy Fury (middle) once heaped praise on his elder half-brother for his redemption arc

Since resolving his long-term future it has looked like the final hurdle on his marathon road to recovery from mental illness has been cleared.

Speaking to Mail Sport’s Jeff Powell in 2021, he said: ‘Thank God. Without my faith I couldn’t possibly be in the very happy place I am today.

‘The story of my struggle is well told but I’m on my longest smooth, upbeat run ever and it will stay that way as long as I continue to manage my mental health and I’m physically able to carry on training every day for the rest of my life.

‘I love to work out. Three or four times a day. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment. Without training I am nothing.’

Cristiano Ronaldo and Anthony Joshua appeared to be hitting it off at ringside as they took their seats next to each other ahead of Tyson Fury‘s heavyweight showdown with Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night.

Ronaldo previously sat next to UFC star Conor McGregor when he watched Joshua beat Otto Wallin back in December, but this time he was placed alongside the Brit.

And the two sporting superstars looked to be getting on well as they were spotted sharing a laugh while watching the heavyweight clash between Agit Kabayel and Frank Sanchez on the Fury vs Usyk undercard.

Exactly what they were talking about is unclear, but Joshua may have been passing on his expert knowledge to Ronaldo, who has taken a keen interest in boxing over the years.

It was a far cry from Ronaldo’s previous experience at a boxing event in Saudi Arabia when he was sat next to McGregor.

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Cristiano Ronaldo and Anthony Joshua were spotted sharing a laugh at ringside

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Joshua may have been passing on his expert knowledge to Ronaldo as they sat together

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Ronaldo appeared happier to be sat next to Joshua than he was when placed alongside Conor McGregor back in December

On that occasion, McGregor was seen talking to Ronaldo in an animated fashion during the evening, with the Portuguese footballer looking as though he was struggling to maintain interest.

Fans likened it to being ‘cornered at a party’ and claimed that Ronaldo looked ‘so uncomfortable’.

But he looked more than happy to speak to Joshua, with the former two-time heavyweight champion having a vested interest in the outcome of tonight’s fight.

After winning his last four fights, Joshua has gathered momentum and looks to be in line to face the winner of tonight’s bout in the not-too-distant future.

A Fury victory could set up a huge domestic dust-up with Joshua, while AJ may also fancy a third crack at Usyk if he gets his hand raised.

Joshua was beaten twice by the Ukrainian on points in 2021 and 2022, but has bounced back well to put himself in the title picture once more.

Boxing legends AJ, Derek Chisora and David Haye in the house

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Joshua has a vested interest in how tonight’s main event between Fury and Usyk plays out

He has teamed up with Fury’s former trainer Ben Davison in his last two fights and recorded dominant wins over Wallin and Francis Ngannou to indicate that he is back to his very best.

Maintaining his current level of form could give him a chance at exacting revenge if he faces Usyk again, with Joshua still determined to prove that he can get back to the top of the heavyweight division.

As Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk come to blows in Saudi Arabia to unify the heavyweight division for the first time this century, the only certainty on Saturday night is that their earnings are set to soar.

Fury is guaranteed £81.5million from the ‘Ring Of Fire’ clash, with pay-per-view purchases expected to push his earnings beyond £100m.

The sum will see the Gypsy King rise up the Forbes ranking of the world’s highest paid athletes. The 35-year-old was placed at 42nd on the business magazine’s list for 2024 ahead of his bid to hold of all the available world titles.

Fury’s elevation will be the latest propelled by Saudi Arabia. Four of the top 10 athletes in the rankings – Karim Benzema, Neymar, Jon Rahm and Cristiano Ronaldo – principally make their money through representing teams or events backed by the Kingdom.

The Gypsy King will follow suit with only Lebron James, Lionel Messi, Rahm and Ronaldo set to surpass his earnings if he does bank £100m.

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Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will compete for the undisputed heavyweight title on Saturday

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Saudi Arabia’s backing of the fight is expected to see Fury rake in over £100m on the night

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Fury will join the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo to receive staggering earnings from Saudi Arabia

TOP 10 HIGHEST-PAID ATHLETES OF 2024 ACCORDING TO FORBES

10. Lamar Jackson – £79million

9. Stephen Curry – £81m

8. Karim Benzema – £84m

7. Neymar – £85m

6. Kylian Mbappe – £87m

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo – £88m

4. LeBron James – £101m

3. Lionel Messi – £107m

2. Jon Rahm – £172m

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – £205m

Rahm and Ronaldo, who occupy the top two positions on the list on £172m and £205m respectively, are prime examples of how the Kingdom has changed the sporting landscape.

A deal reached in December for Rahm to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf made the Spanish star the biggest mover on the list, rising from 28th place 12 months ago to second.

Ronaldo’s earnings were estimated to have nearly doubled over the past year, with the 39-year-old raking in an estimated £205m compared to £108.7m in 2023. The staggering rise was largely in part due to his reported £157m annual salary with the Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

It is arguable that boxing has seen the biggest shift as part of Saudi Arabia’s vast investment into sport, one that has come with accusations of sportswashing.

The Kingdom has become the go to destination for boxing, with the push to put on the sport’s biggest fights backed by Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s general entertainment authority.

Turki, a Saudi advisor at the Royal Court, has been repeatedly been present and thanked by promoters and fighters alike at press conferences for his role in putting on the biggest fights.

His influence has been held up as key to rival promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn joining forces to co-promote shows, while the financial backing has ensured the fights fans want to see finally get made.

Turki is claimed to have been behind the idea for a ‘5v5’ card which will see five of Hearn’s Matchroom fighters go up against five of Warren’s from Queensbury to settle the debate on who has the best stable.

Saturday’s fight is Fury’s second straight contest in Saudi Arabia after his showdown with UFC star turned boxer Francis Ngannou last year, where the Gypsy King was reported to have banked £65m. His brother Tommy also fought Jake Paul in Riyadh in February 2023.

Oleksandr Usyk or Tyson Fury: Boxing personalities place their bet

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Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the Saudi General Authority for Entertainment, has been held up as a key figure in ensuring boxing’s biggest fights get made in recent years

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Anthony Joshua has fought four times in Saudi Arabia and banked £39m when he beat Francis Ngannou in March

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Fury will join sport’s highest earners club regardless of whether he becomes the undisputed heavyweight world champion

Usyk has also returned to the Saudi Arabia, the scene of his second win over Anthony Joshua in 2022. The contest was one of four Joshua fights to have taken place in the nation.

The Briton has benefited significantly from the wealth Saudi Arabia has poured into the sport. Joshua was estimated to have secured a staggering £39m sum when he brutally dispatched Ngannou in March.

Fury will be the next big beneficiary, with the 35-year-old believed to have secured a 70 per cent purse split as the WBC title holder bids to take the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO belts from Usyk.

The Gypsy King is poised to join sport’s highest earners club, regardless of whether he can claim the boxing’s biggest prize.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Anthony Joshua will sit together to watch Tyson Fury‘s undisputed heavyweight clash with Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia tonight.

Fury and Usyk will finally settle their differences in Riyadh to determine the best heavyweight on the planet, and Joshua is set to be an interested observer after winning his last four fights.

He could potentially face the winner in the next 12 months, and will have a front row seat for tonight’s spectacle.

And he will be sat next to Ronaldo, who has shown himself to be a keen boxing fan over the years.

After playing for Al-Nassr last night in their 1-1 draw with Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal, the Portuguese star will be in attendance at ringside this evening to take in the action alongside Joshua.

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Cristiano Ronaldo and Anthony Joshua will sit next to each other for Tyson Fury’s fight with Oleksandr Usyk

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Ronaldo was placed next to Conor McGregor when Joshua fought Otto Wallin in December

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Fans felt Ronaldo looked uncomfortable when he was sat alongside McGregor last year

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Joshua emerged victorious that night after Wallin’s corner threw in the towel after five rounds

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Ronaldo and Joshua will be interested observers as Fury and Usyk battle to prove they are the best heavyweight on the planet

Ronaldo was also in the front row for Joshua’s victory against Otto Wallin in December, but on that occasion he was placed next to MMA superstar Conor McGregor.

During the evening, McGregor was seen speaking in an animated fashion to Ronaldo who appeared to be saying very little in return, leading to fans likening it to being ‘cornered at a party’ and claiming they’d never seen the footballer ‘look so uncomfortable’.

This time, Ronaldo won’t have to speak to McGregor, who is not expected to attend the fight as he is currently training for his UFC return against Michael Chandler next month.

However, Ronaldo’s former Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney is set to be in Riyadh.

Rooney is another footballer with a major interest in boxing, and he even confirmed earlier this year that he has held talks with Misfits Boxing over potentially having a big-money fight himself at some point.

Ronaldo and Rooney’s relationship blossomed when they played together at Old Trafford between 2004 and 2009, but it has become strained in recent years after Ronaldo returned to the Theatre of Dreams in 2021.

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Wayne Rooney is also expected to attend tonight’s undisputed heavyweight fight

During Ronaldo’s second spell at the club, Rooney suggested that United would be better off moving on from the five-time Ballon d’Or winner to give more opportunities to younger players – a comment that Ronaldo appeared to be unhappy with.

Ronaldo did eventually leave United following a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan where he criticised the club and manager Erik ten Hag, leading to his contract being terminated.

Former two-time light-heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev was knocked down and comprehensively beaten on points on the undercard of Tyson Fury‘s heavyweight clash with Oleksandr Usyk.

In just his second fight since being knocked out by Canelo Alvarez in November 2019, Kovalev stepped up to cruiserweight to take on unbeaten Swede Robin Safar in Riyadh, but was unable to roll back the years.

Having fallen behind on the scorecards, Kovalev was sent to the canvas in the closing seconds of the final round after a left hook-right hand combination from Safar.

Kovalev, 41, rose to his feet to hear the final bell, but all three judges scored the fight in favour of Safar.

Across the 10-round contest, Kovalev looked a shell of his former self, and this could spell the end of his glittering career.

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Sergey Kovalev (left) suffered a heavy knockdown in his fight against Robin Safar (right)

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Kovalev was able to get back to his feet to hear the final bell but lost on points

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It was Kovalev’s first fight in two years and he was comprehensively beaten

Nicknamed the ‘Krusher’, Kovalev was widely recognised as the best light-heavyweight on the planet in his prime.

He first became champion in the 175lb division by beating Britain’s Nathan Cleverly via a fourth-round knockout back in 2013.

He would go on to collect two more belts over the next three years, before he lost a controversial decision against America’s Andre Ward in November 2016.

Ward beat Kovalev again the following year, this time stopping the Russian in the eighth round, and Kovalev lost for the third time in his professional career to Eleider Alvarez in 2018.

He gained revenge on Alvarez just six months later, though, to become a two-time champion, and saw off Britain’s Anthony Yarde in his homeland in August 2019.

But his subsequent loss to Canelo led to an extended period of inactivity where he did not fight for over two years before returning with a low-key victory.

Another two years out of the ring followed, and Kovalev was well and truly beaten on Saturday night as his overall record moved to 35 wins, five losses and one draw.

Tyson Fury‘s eldest son was seen posing for a picture alongside Oleksandr Usyk just hours before their undisputed heavyweight title fight.

After months of build-up, Fury and Usyk will finally settle their differences in Riyadh on Saturday night to determine the best heavyweight on the planet.

Tensions have been running high between the two for months now and during the weigh-ins, Fury had a heated clash with his Ukrainian counter-part.

However, Fury’s son – Prince John James – appears to have a more lenient view on the situation and was seen posing alongside Usyk just a few hours before the fight.

In an Instagram post, Prince posed with his fist in the air while the heavyweight star stood with his hands in either pocket.

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Tyson Fury’s son, Prince John James (left), strikes a pose alongside Oleksandr Usyk (middle)

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Fury and Usyk faced off for the final time at Friday’s weigh in ahead of their clash in the ring

While Usyk appeared amicable towards Fury’s son, the same can not be said for his attitude towards the Gypsy King which was exemplified at the weigh-ins.

Tempers flared after both fighters had stepped off the scales before the heavyweights squared off and butted heads on stage.

A fracas subsequently broke out with Fury appearing to push Usyk away from him, before the pair were pulled away by their respective teams.

Fury then unleashed a furious tirade to a DAZN reporter, shouting: ‘I’m coming for his heart. F*** his belts, I’m coming for his f***ing heart.

‘I’m going to knock him spark out. F*** all his team, f*** the lot of them! They can all get it if they want to. S***houses!’

The Gypsy King was also asked how he was feeling after the face-off, to which he replied: ‘I’m ready to rock and roll tonight, I’m going to knock this little f***er spark out.’

The winner of the Saudi showdown will become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999, so it proves to be a huge bout for both men.

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Prince John James is Fury’s eldest son and one of seven children that the Gypsy King has

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The two heavyweights clashed during their final face-off before the fight on Friday afternoon

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Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will compete for the undisputed heavyweight title on Saturday

Fury and Usyk sat down at a press conference on Thursday in Saudi Arabia, with Fury refusing to face-off against Usyk, folding his arms and staring out towards the audience inside the arena as the Ukrainian stared him down.

When asked why he didn’t face off against Usyk, Fury had told Sky Sports, ‘He’s a scary-looking dude.’

He added: ‘I’m just here to relax now and wait until I get into the ring on Saturday night. All the talking is done, all the interviewing is done. I’m really relaxed and focused.’

Usyk said: ‘Let’s make history. Enough.’

The next day, there was plenty of confusion after Usyk‘s weight was incorrectly announced as 233lbs at the weigh-in on Friday.

Usyk would have weighed in 12.6lbs heavier than his last fight against Daniel Dubois back in August 2023.

Ring announcer Michael Buffer had reportedly misheard the weight officials had said after Usyk had taken to the scales, leading to the wrong figure being announced.

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The Gypsy King delivered a furious rant after stepping off the scales, claiming he was ‘going to knock this little f***er spark out,’ in reference to Usyk

Oleksandr Usyk or Tyson Fury: Boxing personalities place their bet

Video footage of the weigh in on social media revealed the officials had actually announced that Usyk had weighed in at 223lbs.

A number of sport’s biggest stars are set to be in attendance on the night – including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Anthony Joshua and Steven Gerrard.

Joshua is set to be an interested observer after winning his last four fights, knowing that he could potentially face the winner in the next 12 months.

The British star will be sat next to Ronaldo, who has shown himself to be a keen boxing fan over the years.

Fury is guaranteed £81.5million from the ‘Ring Of Fire’ clash, meanwhile Usyk is set to pocket £35million from the bout in Saudi Arabia.

The sum will see the Gypsy King rise up the Forbes ranking of the world’s highest paid athletes.

The 35-year-old was placed at 42nd on the business magazine’s list for 2024 ahead of his bid to hold of all the available world titles.

Fury (left) and Usyk (right) are set to walk away with lucrative pay days from the title fight

Boxing fans arrive in Riyadh ahead of Fury v Usyk fight

Saturday’s fight is Fury’s second straight contest in Saudi Arabia after his showdown with UFC star turned boxer Francis Ngannou last year, where the Gypsy King was reported to have banked £65m.

Usyk has also returned to the Saudi Arabia, the scene of his second win over Anthony Joshua in 2022. The contest was one of four Joshua fights to have taken place in the nation.

The Briton has benefited significantly from the wealth Saudi Arabia has poured into the sport. Joshua was estimated to have secured a staggering £39m sum when he brutally dispatched Ngannou in March.

Fury will be the next big beneficiary, with the 35-year-old believed to have secured a 70 per cent purse split as the WBC title holder bids to take the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO belts from Usyk.

Mark Chamberlain delivered an emphatic performance to knock out Joshua Wahab in the first round of their WBC silver lightweight championship bout on Saturday evening.

The sensational knockout victory sees Chamberlain, 25, claim the vacant WBC silver lightweight championship belt, having knocked his opponent to the canvas twice in the fight.

With 45 seconds left on the clock, Wahab stepped forward and left himself exposed, swinging for his British opponent with his left arm.

Chamberlain saw the move coming, shifted to his left and produced a crushing jab to his opponent’s face, sending him to the floor. Wahab was able to continue but the British southpaw saw his opportunity to take the victory.

He pressed again on the Nigerian fighter, pushing him into the corner, before unloading a flurry of punches which Wahab could do little to defend himself against. Chamberlain delivered a brutal right hand to Wahab’s head, seeming to daze the 26-year-old, before catching him again with another right hook, sending his opponent to the floor.

MARK CHAMBERLAIN KNOCKS OUT JOSHUA WAHAB IN ROUND 1!!!! pic.twitter.com/0vcLOyujTl

— Tokkerū (@atokkers4) May 18, 2024

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British fighter Mark Chamberlain (right) delivered a brutal right hand hook to beat Joshua Wahab (top left) in the first round of their fight

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Chamberlain (centre) knocked his opponent to the canvas twice during the fight, before delivering a brutal knockout punch

Chamberlain, who hails from Portsmouth and will remains unbeaten after tonight, is nicknamed ‘Thunder’ and he certainly lived up to that tonight.

He has now extended his fight record to 16-0-0 and was greeted by his promoter, Frank Warren inside the ring after the fight.

‘I thought I was in for a hard night, but look what I have just done in the first round,’ Chamberlain said to TNT Sports Box Office.

‘Thank you to his excellency (Turki Alalshikh) and Frank Warren, this is changing my life.’

This is the second time the 25-year-old has fought in Saudi Arabia, having claimed the formerly vacant WBA inter-continental lightweight title with a TKO victory against Gavin Gwynne on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s fight against Francis Ngannou last year.

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He had knocked Wahab (left) down earlier in the first round, but the Nigerian fighter was able to continue

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After the fight was resumed, the British boxer (right) pressed Wahab (left) into the corner of the ring where he would ultimately land the winning blow

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Chamberlain (left) was subsequently crowned the WBC silver lightweight champion

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Chamberlain, here pictured with his promoter Frank Warren (right) insisted that he ‘wanted to keep winning’ after the fight

Speaking on his victory, Chamberlain added: ‘He [Wahab] was out on his feet, I then thought I had to be a bit wary, but the second [punch] blew him away.

‘I hope to be back in Riyadh to keep pushing on and pleasing. I want to keep winning.’

KSI has branded Tyson Fury ‘deluded’ and a ‘t***’ for claiming that Oleksandr Usyk was handed victory in their title fight because his country, Ukraine, is at war with Russia.

Usyk was awarded the victory by split decision with scores of 115-112, 113-114, and 114-113 to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.

Fury was respectful in defeat but believed he was the rightful winner and argued that ‘people are siding with the country at war’.

Usyk had the better of the opening skirmishes before Fury dominated the middle rounds, but the Ukrainian’s endurance prevailed and he took the latter stages, with a 10-8 score in round nine.

YouTube star KSI was vexed by Fury’s comments, tagging him in a post on X and writing: ‘F*** OFF YOU T***. You’re actually deluded.’

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KSI has branded Tyson Fury a ‘t***’ and ‘deluded’ after the boxer claimed Oleksandr Usyk was awarded his split decision win because Ukraine, his homeland, is at war with Russia

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The Gypsy King said, ‘I won the fight’, and claimed ‘people are siding with the country at war’

Tyson Fury ready for a rematch after losing against Usyk

KSI’s profile in sport is increasing with the growth of his Misfits Boxing promotion which he founded in 2022.

Fury, who is expected to pocket north of £100m for his role in an era-defining clash in Saudi Arabia, was adamant he had won in the immediate aftermath of the bout.

‘I believe I won that fight,’ he said to DAZN. ‘And I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won the majority of them.’

He added: ‘I believe we both put on a good fight – best we could do. And, you know, his country is at war. People are siding with the country at war.

‘Make no mistake, I won that fight in my opinion.’

On another night, perhaps Usyk could have been hailed as the winner. TNT Sports’ pundit Richie Woodhall scored the fight 114-114 as it had been so competitive.

It was a monumental night for the heavyweight division, with Usyk being crowned the first undisputed champion of the four-belt era, and the first since Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield in 1999.

After the slugfest in Saudi, both fighters showed respect to each other with Fury seen putting his arms around Usyk’s shoulders inside the ring.

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Usyk was crowned the first undisputed heavyweight world champion of the four-belt era

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Fury and Usyk were respectful after the fight but the Gypsy King felt he was hard-done by

Tearful Oleksander Usyk misses father after ‘historical’ win

Usyk, who held up a Ukraine flag after the fight, thanked his team for helping him succeed, before stating he was ready for the rematch that Fury demanded.

‘We’ll go back to our families and I’ll see him again in October. We’ll go back, rest up,’ Fury said.

‘I believe I won the fight but I’m not going to sit and cry and make excuses. We’ll run it again in October.’

In an exclusive interview with Mail Sport, Usyk had said that he wants to give back to those who have suffered from the war in his home country.

His charity, the Usyk Foundation, has launched a major fundraising campaign to raise 1million EUR to purchase 50 ambulances to save Ukrainian lives amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Speaking on the conflict he said: ‘My everyday routine begins with picking up the phone and reading the news about how many rockets have landed in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other cities today.

Oleksandr Usyk ready to go home after victory against Tyson Fury

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Usyk recently told Mail Sport that he wants to give back to people who are suffering in Ukraine

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He produced a stunning comeback to beat Fury on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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The Ukrainian had Fury troubled in the ninth round and nearly knocked out the Gypsy King

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The victory sees Usyk become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in this century

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Fury started the fight well however began to fade as the heavyweight title bout went on

‘Every morning I check to see if all of my friends and loved ones are alive and pray for their safety. And this is 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.’

The words shared between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk after their historic heavyweight world title fight have been revealed.

Usyk became the first undisputed champion of the four-belt era thanks to a split decision triumph, claiming scores of 115-112, 113-114, and 114-113.

It was a fight for the ages, a marvel of power, technique, and endurance, and the two fighters showed each other great respect as soon as the final bell went.

Fury immediately pulled Usyk in for a hug and kissed him on the head as they awaited their fate.

And now their conversation after Usyk was crowned champion, which couldn’t be heard clearly on TV, has been revealed.

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Tyson Fury told Oleksandr Usyk that he wanted to visit him and his family in Ukraine – and invited him on a holiday to England after losing by split decision in Saudi Arabia on Saturday

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Usyk was crowned undisputed heavyweight champion of the world via split decision in Riyadh

Oleksandr Usyk ready to go home after victory against Tyson Fury

‘Good work Oleksandr. You’re a strong man and a very good boxer. Very good, my brother. In Christ,’ Fury began as he held Usyk’s head in his hands.

Usyk replied: ‘Listen, I started preparing for you when you were boxing in 2008, European champion,’ likely referencing Fury’s EU Junior Championship of 2007.

Fury said: ‘Thank you my brother, you’re a very good boxer. I love it, I love it, good moves.’

Usyk said: ‘I’m very proud. We’re a friendly… family. My son said: “Hey, Tyson push you…”

Some snippets of their conversation are difficult to make out due to the din of the crowd and the throng surrounding them in the ring.

The Gypsy King made a promise to the newly crowned undisputed heavyweight champion, the first since Lennox Lewis, who retired in 2004.

‘I’d like to come to Ukraine with my family and have a holiday with your family and you can come to my house and have a holiday with me,’ he said.

Usyk sounded up for it. ‘No problem, my friend.’

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Usyk told Fury he had admired him since the 2000s and Fury spoke of his admiration for him

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The Gypsy King (right) expressed his gratitude to Prince Turki and shouted: ‘Show me the money baby!’ when the prospect of a rematch against the Ukrainian fighter was mentioned

Tyson Fury ready for a rematch after losing against Usyk

And then Fury revealed a more immediate intention: ‘My brother, we’ll have a beer after this. Alcohol-free!’

The Brit also exchanged fist bumps and warm words with members of Usyk’s contingent. ‘Thank you guys, appreciate you all.’

There was a heartfelt thank-you to Prince Turki bin Salman Al Saud, brother of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

‘Turki, thank you my brother for putting this on. Look how many people couldn’t put us together, but you made this happen for the world. We gave them a precious fight.’

When Prince Turki mentioned more fights in Saudi, Fury’s enthusiasm was uncontainable. ‘Yeah, we’ll have it again. Show me the money baby! Show Oleksandr the money!’

Fury had demanded a rematch in his post-fight interview, with the contract stipulating that the loser can call one. He felt he should have won the fight.

Usyk is moved to tears as he talks about his supportive late dad

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Usyk (left) produced a stunning comeback to beat Fury (right) on Saturday night in Riyadh

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The Ukrainian had Fury troubled in the ninth round and nearly knocked out the Gypsy King

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The victory sees Usyk become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in this century

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Fury started the fight well however began to fade as the heavyweight title bout went on

Tearful Oleksander Usyk misses father after ‘historical’ win

While Usyk had the upper hand in the opening rounds, pinning a showboating Gypsy King in the corner, Fury came back in the mid-section of the fight with a series of punishing body blows and upper cuts.

However, Usyk looked fresher in the latter stages of the fight and a devastating hit in the ninth round left Fury wobbling around and almost being counted out as he tried to stay on his feet.

Tyson Fury is set to bank another £100million from a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk after losing for the first time last night as the Ukrainian fighter became the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four belt era.

The judges on the night scored the bout 115-112 Usyk, 114-113 Fury and 114-113 Usyk to see Usyk win via split-decision – but the pre-bout deal the two boxers signed lines up a second encounter.

Fury, from Morecambe in Lancashire, claimed afterwards that the judges favoured Usyk due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – while the British boxer’s wife Paris revealed how she was a ‘bag of nerves’ before the epic tussle.

It has also been revealed that triumphant Usyk, 37, was rushed to hospital with a suspected broken jaw instead of attending a post-match press conference.

The battle was a tale of two halves at the Kingdom Arena, after 35-year-old Fury dominated the opening rounds before Usyk came back to control the fight with a flurry of punches in the ninth round leaving the Gypsy King floundering.

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Oleksandr Usyk (left) produced a stunning comeback to beat Tyson Fury (right) on Saturday

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The Ukrainian had Fury troubled in the ninth round and nearly knocked out the Gypsy King

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The victory sees Usyk become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in this century

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Fury started the fight well however began to fade as the heavyweight title bout went on

Tearful Oleksander Usyk misses father after ‘historical’ win

After the final round, there was mutual respect between the two fighters who exchanged kisses and hugs as they awaited the result.

But Fury’s mood soured when Usyk was named the victor with the UK fighter telling an interviewer that ‘people are siding with Usyk because of the Ukraine war’.

Fury’s wife Paris, 34, said beforehand about watching her husband fight: ‘I hate it  I’ve got to be truthful, that’s the flat out answer.

‘I support him but I don’t enjoy it. I hate being there but on the other hand, I feel like I have to be there.

‘I feel like, if I’m not there, what happens if something goes wrong and I’m not with him?’

Fury insisted after his first ever career defeat that he was ready for a rematch mooted to happen this coming October.

He said: ‘I believe I won that fight. He won a few of the rounds but I won the majority of them.

‘It’s one of those things – what can you do with decisions in boxing? We both put on a good fight, the best we could do. His country’s at war – so people are siding with the country at war.

‘But make no mistake, I won that fight, in my opinion. I’ll be back. I’ve got a rematch clause. I’ve had a split-decision loss to a good little man.

‘We go back, have a little rest up, spend some time with our families, and get it back on in October. I’m not going to sit here and cry and make excuses. It was a good fight.

‘We go back to our families and run it back in October. Good luck to Oleksandr, well done. God bless, happy New Year.’

Both men had come flying out of the blocks in the opening round, as Fury looked to keep Usyk at distance before targeting the body with some heavy shots.

Usyk however, using his diligent footwork, looked to negate Fury’s reach and get inside by operating on different levels – which eventually paid dividends.

In the opening round, Fury was clearly enjoying himself and gestured to the crowd before being caught by the Ukrainian while on the ropes.

The Gypsy King looked for the uppercut in the second round, missing twice before catching Usyk with 10 seconds left on the clock. The Ukrainian wore it well but certainly felt Fury’s power.

Usyk then landed a right-left combination in the second before wincing from a powerful body shot from Fury.

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Usyk had seemed troubled at times however overcame the adversity to eventually win the bout

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The Gypsy King taunted Usyk throughout the fight despite being second-best on the night

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The Ukrainian scored a knockdown in the ninth as Fury found himself held up by the ropes

Tyson Fury enters the ring ahead of fight against Usyk

However, the Ukrainian did end the round by getting Fury in the corner and landing a flurry of punches before complaining about his counter-punch landing on the back of the head.

Then, a clash of heads in the fourth concerned fans that Fury’s cut would open up however Fury didn’t appear to be worried – summoning Usyk on before doing a few Muhammed Ali shuffles.

Fury appeared to be getting the better of his opponent, as Usyk complained of two low blows in the fifth round before being caught to the body twice. Fury also managed to cut Usyk above his right eye.

The Gypsy King got the fans excited in the sixth, landing an uppercut that wobbled the Ukrainian before finishing the round with his hands behind his back.

However, Usyk survived and began to mount an impressive comeback, as he continued to operate on different levels in the eighth to try and close the distance.

Then, the tables turned in the ninth round. Fury was saved by the bell, or perhaps the referee, after going down following a relentless attack from Usyk.

The Ukrainian drew upon energy that Fury did not think remained, after dominating earlier, and stunned the British heavyweight with some powerful combinations.

Usyk then continued the charge in the 10th and asserted his dominance over the British star as he continued to set the pace and keep Fury on the back-foot.

Following the tenth, both men showed signs of fatigue after putting everything they had into what can only be described as an excellent fight.

It was an all out war for the final round, with the judges scoring it 115-112 Usyk, 114-113 Fury and 114-113 Usyk.

After the fight, Fury claimed ‘people are siding with Usyk because of the Ukraine war’ following his split-decision defeat.

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Usyk and his team stand with his four heavyweight belts after the triumphant victory

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Meanwhile, Fury made the stunning claim that ‘people are siding with the country at war’

Usyk’s trainer, Alexander Krassyuk, evidently did not agree with Fury’s claims as he insisted that the Ukrainian was robbed of a knockout in the ninth round.

Krassyuk said: ‘I’m exhausted, I was backing Usyk all fight. No disrespect to the referee but I think he stopped a KO in the ninth but anyway it was a tremendous performance.

‘It was unbelievable and I hope to see more in the rematch.’

Shortly after the decision, fans gave their support to the Brit on social media, with some claiming he was wronged on the scorecards.

‘Tyson Fury got robbed,’ one fan posted on X in reaction to the bout. ‘Showed a heart of a lion.’

Another wrote: ‘Fury 115 Usyk 144 – Fury robbed but Usyk brilliant!’

Fury himself said: ‘I want to thank God. We fought a good fight for the fans. I always say it’s about getting paid and getting laid and we did that.

‘I want to thank Oleksandr for the good fight. It was a close fight. I thought I’d done enough, but I’m not a judge. I can’t judge a fight while I’m boxing in it.’

And on battling Usyk again, he declared: ‘Yes, of course – rematch. I am ready. We have more time to do a good fight.’

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Cristiano Ronaldo (middle) was situated on the front row, sat next to Anthony Joshua (left)

Klitschko and Shevchenko laud ‘historical’ win for Ukrainian Usyk

Before being taken to hospital, champion Usyk said: ‘I feel good. A lot of people prayed for me. I love you. I’m very happy.

‘My people will be very happy. It’s a big win, not only for me but it’s a big win for my country and for the soldiers who now defend my country.

‘Thank you so much to my team. It’s a big opportunity for my family, for me, for my country. It’s a great time, it’s a great day.’

A number of sport’s biggest stars were seen in attendance on the night – with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Anthony Joshua and Neymar all watching on.

Ronaldo, who currently plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, has been a regular at big fights in Saudi Arabia and continued that trend on Saturday.

Sat alongside Joshua for the big fight, the footballer was a large focus of attention as the build to the main event continued inside the Kingdom Arena.

Before the main event got underway, the 39-year-old was approached by former rival and fellow football superstar Neymar, and the two engaged in a brief conversation before embracing.

In an exclusive interview with Mail Sport in the build-up to the fight, Usyk said that he wants to give back to those who have suffered from the war in his home country.

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Usyk previously said that he wants to give back to those who have suffered from the war

His charity, the Usyk Foundation, has launched a major fundraising campaign to raise €1million (£860,000) to buy 50 ambulances to save Ukrainian lives amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Speaking on the conflict he said: ‘My everyday routine begins with picking up the phone and reading the news about how many rockets have landed in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other cities today.

‘Every morning I check to see if all of my friends and loved ones are alive and pray for their safety. And this is 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.’