Oleksandr Usyk defied the odds to beat Tyson Fury via split decision to seal his place as the best heavyweight on the planet in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
Despite Usyk scoring a heavy knockdown in round nine, one judge still gave the bout in favour of Fury by a single point, 114-113.
But he was overruled by his fellow judges, who edged towards Usyk 115-112 and 114-113.
The Ukrainian is the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000, but did he deserve the victory?
Fury didn’t think so, and Mail Sport’s boxing expert Jeff Powell also had a different result, so how did he score the contest?
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Oleksandr Usyk got the nod from the judges to become the undisputed heavyweight champion
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Tyson Fury disagreed with the decision, and Mail Sport’s Jeff Powell also had a different result
Klitschko and Shevchenko laud ‘historical’ win for Ukrainian Usyk
Jeff Powell’s scorecard
Round 1 – Fury took charge of the early exchanges with his telescopic left jab. He even show-boated in a corner after evading one Usyk advance and danced clear after being clipped.
Fury 10-9 Usyk
Round 2 – Usyk opened up the second with a crisp one-two. Fury went back to the jab and took the second despite being tagged just before the bell.
Fury 10-9 Usyk
Round 3 – Fury was restored to the days of his prime. Jab sharp. Movement fluid. Too big to catch with anything hurtful.
Fury 10-9 Usyk
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Fury danced around the ring in the early stages as he frustrated Usyk with his showboating
Round 4 – Such was Fury’s command that he was outboxing the master technician.
Fury 10-9 Usyk
Round 5 – Fury checked out Usyk’s alleged weakness in the body and was warned for one low blow as Usyk complained. But the Ukrainian’s biggest problem was a cut by the right eye, which may have been caused by a clash of heads in the preceding round.
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Fury tested Usyk’s body and appeared to move into a lead in the first half of the fight
Fury 10-9 Usyk
Round 6 – The crowd were willing Usyk to get into the fight but he was being overwhelmed. This was becoming a phenomenal performance by the Gypsy King. He was picking his man off at will and taunting him into the bargain.
Fury 10-9 Usyk
Round 7 – Half way and Usyk yet to win a round. He needed one now not to be beyond recovery on points and stole this one with powerful finish after catching Fury play-acting.
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After struggling in the first half of the fight, Usyk started to build momentum from the seventh round
Fury 9-10 Usyk
Round 8 – Could Usyk be getting back into this. A huge effort from him is rewarded by landing several left hooks which had Fury holding and leaning for the first time 9-10
Fury 9-10 Usyk
Round 9 – Astonishing effort by Usyk. Fury reels from those huge lefts, slumps against the ropes and is saved by a standing eight-count, then the bell.
Fury 8-10 Usyk
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Usyk landed a huge left hand to leave Fury in big trouble as he scored a knockdown
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Fury staggered around the ring, with the referee eventually administering a count
Round 10 – Fury boxing on fumes. Usyk now doing the taunting.
Fury 9-10 Usyk
Round 11 – What a fight of two halves. Fury’s power has left his punches. He hangs on again. They are now incredibly level on my card going into the last.
Fury 9-10 Usyk
Round 12 – Fury makes his last stand. His rights equal Usyk’s lefts. The last is even. If the judges agree….its a draw.
Fury 10-10 Usyk
Final verdict: Fury 114-114 Usyk
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Usyk got his hand raised but Jeff Powell believes the fight should have been scored a draw
