Fans have praised Tyson Fury for his performance in his historic defeat by Oleksandr Usyk.

The two heavyweights put on a thriller over 12 rounds in Riyadh, with Usyk winning via split decision to be crowned the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the century.

They will have a rematch later this year, but Fury was left fuming after the bout, claiming people sided with Usyk because ‘his country is at war’ and that he in fact won.

The ‘Gypsy King’ then made a swift exit from the ring, having dominated the early stages of the fight before Usyk made a comeback, rocking his opponent in the ninth round.

Fans have given their support to the Brit on social media, with some claiming he was wronged on the scorecards in what was his first defeat of his professional career.

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Fans have lauded Tyson Fury for his performance against Oleksandr Usyk despite his defeat

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The ‘Gypsy King’ claimed after the bout that he won the fight and people sided with Usyk because ‘his country is at war’

Klitschko and Shevchenko laud ‘historical’ win for Ukrainian Usyk

‘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 had dominated the early stages of the fight, with Usyk struggling against the bigger man who had the height, weight and reach advantage.

But he came back into the bout, rocking his opponent in the ninth round as Fury faced a count in what was a crucial 10-8 round for the Ukrainian.

According to the Ukrainian’s manager, Usyk was robbed of a knockout win in the ninth round when referee Mark Nelson stepped in to count Fury before he had fallen to the ground.

Alexander Krassyuk spoke in the aftermath of Usyk’s split decision win over the ‘Gypsy King’ and argued that Usyk would have finished his opponent if it had not been for the referee stepping in to call a knock down with Fury still upright.