Oleksandr Usyk in tears for late father after historic heavyweight win

RIYADH – An emotional Oleksandr Usyk shed tears for his late father after crowning a brilliant career by becoming boxing’s first four-belt undisputed heavyweight world champion on May 19.

The 37-year-old Ukrainian won a split decision against Britain’s Tyson Fury in Riyadh in the first heavyweight unification fight since 1999, and the first in the four-belt era.

The former European and world amateur champion, undisputed cruiserweight champion and 2012 Olympic gold medallist – still undefeated as a professional – now adds the ultimate boxing crown.

Afterwards Usyk, who needed four stitches to a cut above his right eye and was headed to hospital for a scan of his jaw, remembered his father, who died shortly after his Olympic victory in London.

“I miss my father,” he said, wiping his tears with his T-shirt. “I know he’s here.”

Usyk has missed children’s birthdays and even the birth of his daughter during his eight-month camp for the Fury fight, originally scheduled for February, before the Briton suffered a cut in training.

The Ukrainian is the first undisputed champion since the end of Lennox Lewis’ reign in April 2000.

His promoter Alex Krassyuk believed that Usyk was denied a knockout victory when the referee stepped in as Fury looked about to hit the deck in round nine.

“I believe the referee saved Tyson from a knockout and stole the ninth-round knockout, which should have happened,” Krassyuk said.

But Usyk said: “No knockout, no problem. I don’t think about it because we had a win.”

However, Fury said sympathy for Ukraine was behind the judges’ awarding a split-decision victory to Usyk. It was his only loss in 36 professional bouts.

Two judges scored it for Usyk 115-112 and 114-113, while the third gave it to Fury 114-113. The victory extended Usyk’s professional record to 22-0.

“I believe I won that fight. I believe he won a few of the rounds but I won the majority of them... His country’s at war, and people are siding with the country at war, but make no mistake, I won that fight,” Fury, 35, said in a post-fight interview in the ring.

Ukraine has been fighting a Russian invasion that started over two years ago.

“I’ll be back. I’ve got a rematch clause,” Fury added, with promoter Frank Warren saying in the ring another fight between the two was a certainty.

“That’s what the contract says. It’s what he wants. It’s his call, it’s Tyson’s call. So whatever he wants to do, it’s up to him,” Warren said.

After an intriguing 12-round battle that saw both men enjoy success, plenty of boxing fans would relish the chance to see the pair go at it again, especially after Usyk managed to turn the tide.

Asked if he would be prepared to face Fury again, Usyk, who did not respond directly to Fury's claim, was unequivocal.

“Yes, of course,” he said.

Later, Fury suggested he was undecided about a rematch.

The Briton, who gave up his World Boxing Council belt to Usyk – the holder of the International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organisation titles – said he would discuss the potential rematch, loosely scheduled for October, with his wife and children.

“I’ll have a holiday, go home, put it to the wife and kids. I’ll see what I want to do,” the “Gypsy King” said.

“I’m 36 in a few months. I’ve been boxing since I’ve been a child, so it is what it is. Where does it all end? A hundred fights and brain damage, in a wheelchair? I’m not sure.

“But the one thing is, all the time I’m still loving the game – and I was having fun in there, I was really enjoying myself – then I’ll continue to do it.”

The unpredictable Fury has twice retired from boxing. Apart from Usyk, another tempting fight would be against British rival and former world champion Anthony Joshua.

In the co-main event, Australia’s Jai Opetaia won a unanimous decision over Mairis Briedis of Latvia to win the vacant IBF cruiserweight title, and Ireland’s Anthony Cacace scored a technical knockout win over Joe Cordina of Wales to retain his International Boxing Organisation super-featherweight title and claim the IBF belt. AFP, REUTERS