THE UNSTOPPABLE UKRAINIAN USYK DETHRONES THE GYPSY KING

Written by: Floyd Nkanyane

On an epic night in Saudi Arabia, the unthinkable happened – Oleksandr Usyk shocked the world and became the undisputed heavyweight champion of the planet. The unflappable Ukrainian warrior dethroned the supposedly unbeatable Gypsy King Tyson Fury in dramatic fashion.

It was a tale of two fights. Early on, the bigger and rangier Fury used his advantages to seemingly befuddle and outbox the smaller Usyk. The Brit was clowning, showboating and laughing off Usyk’s shots like they were mere mosquito bites. Fury’s nasty uppercuts had Usyk in trouble midway through.

But then the monumental momentum shift happened in the 9th round. Usyk unleashed hellacious overhand lefts that had Fury’s legs frantically doing the Bambi on ice impression. The Gypsy King was given a standing count and saved by the bell, escaping what looked like certain defeat. Living legends like Lennox Lewis watched on in disbelief ringside.

The two touched gloves before a spine-tingling final round that had everything on the line. Usyk gritted his way through another Fury onslaught and may have just edged it to sway the judges his way. When the scorecards were announced, Fury stared in utter disbelief as the unbreakable Usyk broke down in tears of joy.

With scores of 115-112, 114-113 Usyk and 114-113 Fury, the 37-year-old Ukrainian became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in nearly 25 years. He added Fury’s WBC belt to his WBA, WBO and IBF collection in one of boxing’s greatest achievements.

The bigger-they-are-the-harder-they-fall cliché proved true. Usyk’s indomitable spirit and will to win overcame Fury’s physical advantages in an unforgettable battle for the ages. The 6ft 3in Crimean giant stood tall, draped in every heavyweight strap, as the first four-belt king of the blue-ribbon division.

In Boxing Summary

The wise and the prudent claim there are more ways than one to skin a cat. It’s true. Only problem is they were yet to cross paths with “The Cat” Usyk. He proved there is a way to end a 16 year old reign of a “Gypsy King”, a Dance in Riyadh.