Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury in a fight for the title of absolute world heavyweight champion. The fight between the Ukrainian and the Briton took place in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), where the title of absolute world heavyweight champion was at stake.
The fight at the Kingdom Arena in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh has determined the absolute world champion for the first time in 25 years. Boxers in the heavyweight category have not had such a title since 1999, when Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield.
The Ukrainian entered this fight with 21 wins. Fury had 34 wins in 35 fights (the only draw in 2018 against Deontay Wilder).
By the way, the Usyk-Fury fight was supposed to take place in February 2024. But a few days before the scheduled date, Tyson Fury suffered a serious injury during sparring.
The odds fluctuated for about six months in favor of one boxer and the other. Until February, Fury was considered the favorite, but the latter's injury, according to bookmakers, changed the balance of power in favor of the Ukrainian.
Later, literally a day before the fight, the “Gypsy King” was still considered the favorite. His success was estimated at 2.01, while bets on Usyk’s victory were accepted at odds of 2.20.
The fact that the fight would last 12 rounds was something most experts agreed on. You could bet on such an outcome with odds of 1.52. The Ukrainian was most likely to win on points, while the probability of Fury knocking out Usyk was rated higher.
Recall that the boxers were ready to start the fight a day earlier during the weigh-in procedure. Fury tried to provoke Usyk and pushed him. But representatives of the athletes' teams separated them.
It was also reported that Evander Holyfield and Anthony Joshua considered the Ukrainian the favorite for the fight. Holyfield expected a knockout and said that although Usyk was shorter, he still had more skills than him. Joshua, for his part, called Usyk a phenomenal fighter and was confident in his victory.
