Oleksandr Usyk inflicted the first loss on Tyson Fury in his professional career on Saturday night.
The Ukrainian became the first man to reign supreme over the heavyweight division since Lennox Lewis by winning the undisputed crown by way of a split decision in Saudi Arabia.
Usyk had looked to have been drifting in the fight as the ‘Gypsy King’ imposed his size and got to grips with the early pace his opponent set.
Many onlookers would have had Fury ahead on the scorecards until the eighth round, when Usyk shifted the momentum by busting Fury’s nose open.
The fight reached its pivotal moment in the ninth round as a ferocious barrage of punches from Usyk sent Fury flying around the ring and repeatedly staggering against the ropes.
Referee Mark Nelson intervened and forced the count, with Fury just about making it before being saved by the bell.
Fury recovered in the closing stages but it was not enough to extend a 35-fight unbeaten streak.
Judge Craig Metcalfe of Canada awarded Fury the fight at a score 114-113.
Fellow judges Manuel Oliver Palomo and Mike Fitzgerald both scored the fight in favour of Usyk, however, at 115-112 and 114-113 respectively.
Among the many stars in attendance in Saudi Arabia was Anthony Joshua.
The British heavyweight has been tipped to fight the winner of a potential rematch between Fury and Usyk, which has been pencilled in for October.
Joshua has been slated to fight the winner of Daniel Dubois and Filip Hrgovic for the soon-to-be-vacant IBF title, too.
Usyk has already beaten Joshua twice but any meeting with Fury would likely be one the biggest fights boxing has ever seen, such is their status in Britain.
Joshua’s promoter and CEO of Matchroom Boxing Eddie Hearn has revealed Joshua’s thoughts about Saturday night’s drama in the Middle East.
While the general consensus is that the two put on a close fight, Hearn says Joshua thought Usyk was a clear winner.
“He had Usyk winning quite convincingly,” said Hearn of Joshua.
“I went over after and said ‘what do you think?’ And he was like, ‘Usyk’s won, great fight but Usyk comfortable winner.
“I think most people felt that Usyk won, it’s just about how wide they saw the cards.”
