Tyson Fury suffered a split-decision defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in a dramatic match in Saudi Arabia, making Usyk boxing’s first four-belt undisputed heavyweight champion.

The fight, staged at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena, saw Fury initially dominate. However, Usyk turned the tide in the ninth round, leaving Fury dazed and saved by the bell. As the scorecards were read, a confident Fury awaited the verdict, but it was Usyk who broke into tears of joy, winning with scores of 115-112 and 114-113, while one judge scored it 114-113 for Fury.

This defeat marks the first loss in Fury’s 16-year professional career. Despite the setback, he will have an immediate chance for redemption with a rematch planned for later this year. “I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won the majority,” Fury claimed. “It was one of the daftest decisions in boxing. I’ll be back.”

Usyk, adding the WBC belt to his WBA, WBO, and IBF titles, remains unbeaten at 37 and is now the first sole heavyweight world champion in nearly 25 years. “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,” Usyk said. “Yes, of course. I am ready for a rematch.”

In front of a crowd of 20,000 that included Cristiano Ronaldo, Usyk, a former undisputed cruiserweight champion, showcased his skill and resilience. Fury, showboating early on, underestimated Usyk’s comeback in the ninth round. Despite his conditioning and fitness, Fury couldn’t sustain his dominance.

A rematch is scheduled for October, though not all four belts may be on the line due to IBF’s mandatory challenger policies. Fury remains determined, saying, “We’ll go back, rest up… We’ll run it again.” Usyk’s unshakable will and mental toughness ultimately secured his historic victory.