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Klitschko: Oleksandr Usyk is the best player in newfangled history

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Usyk beat Fury by split decision to become undisputed heavyweight champion Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Wladimir Klitschko was ringside to watch Oleksandr Usyk defeat Tyson Fury in Riyad.  Photo: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions
Wladimir Klitschko was ringside to watch Oleksandr Usyk defeat Tyson Fury in Riyad. Photo: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions

After his stunning victory over Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko hailed Oleksandr Usyk as the greatest boxer in “newfangled history”.

Klitschko was at the ring to support his compatriot Usyk, who won a split decision over Fury on Saturday in Riyad and became the undisputed heavyweight champion.

Usyk was first the undisputed owner of the heavyweight divisionsince Lennox Lewis achieved the feat in 1999 to become the second-ever undisputed champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions behind Evander Holyfield, and both were present at the Kingdom Arena for the historic bout.

Klitschko, who lost the heavyweight title to Fury in 2015, praised his compatriot and believes he should be considered the standout fighter of our time.

“This historic victory is crucial not only for Oleksandr Usyk,” said the 48-year-old Heavenly sports.

“Can you imagine the pressure this man has been under over the last few weeks and here in this ring?

“Failure was definitely not an option.

“He showed once again that he is undisputed and he is great in the cruiserweight division, but even more surprising to a lot of people and it doesn’t matter how gigantic, how high, how weighty, how much reach he has and how mobile Tyson Fury was.

“Oleksandr Usyk has shown that he is the best fighter in newfangled history.

“I am very proud of Oleksandr Usyk and I am very proud to be Ukrainian.”

Usyk defeated Fury by split decision to become the undisputed heavyweight champion. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Usyk defeated Fury by split decision to become the undisputed heavyweight champion. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Usyk came close to stopping Fury in the ninth round when he sent the Briton into the ropes, although the 35-year-old received a standing eight count and was subsequently saved by the bell.

The knockdown proved decisive, as Usyk won by one point on one judge’s scorecard and two points on another, with one judge ahead of the competition for the “Gypsy King.”

Klitschko is adamant Usyk deserved to win the fight and expressed appreciation to his elderly rival Fury for surviving a thrilling ninth round.

“When you count points, you can’t be 100 percent sure in boxing, and the judges decided that Oleksandr Usyk deserved this fight,” he added.

“Without a doubt, an excellent performance by both players.

“I’m surprised how Tyson Fury managed to survive the ninth round until the end of the fight, but he did it. Let’s show him respect.

“Most importantly, Oleksandr stayed the same and did what he needed to do, becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion, the Ukrainian heavyweight champion of the world.”

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UK Boxing

Tyson Fury sends an ominous warning to Oleksandr Usyk

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Tyson Fury has promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Tyson Fury vowed to hurt Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday's rematch. Photo: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry
Tyson Fury vowed to hurt Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday’s rematch. Photo: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry

Tyson Fury vowed to “seriously hurt” him in Saturday’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.

Fury is for revenge first defeat his professional career when he meets Usyk at the Kingdom Arena in Riyad, seven months after he was dropped by split decision at the same venue.

“The Gypsy King” has put in a solemn performance throughout the build-up and continued that attitude during Wednesday’s public training session.

The 36-year-old put on his gloves, greeted the audience and took off his gloves without landing a single blow on his pads.

The Briton, who is generally in a cheerful mood, revealed little in the interview DAZN then, but sent his rival a dire warning.

Tyson Fury promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Tyson Fury promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

“A lot of pain.

“Smash and destroy.

“A lot of pain, solemn hurt.”

Fury, who is aiming to become a three-time world heavyweight champion, held a training camp in Malta ahead of the rematch and earlier this week claimed he had not had contact with his wife Paris for three months.

Usyk secured the undisputed heavyweight title in May but vacated the IBF belt to secure a rematch, while Daniel Dubois, who arrived in Riyadh earlier this week, was elevated to full champion after winning the interim title.

If the fighter from Morecambe exacts revenge, according to Fury’s British promoter, Frank Warren, a third fight with the Ukrainian has already been contracted.

However, Fury promised a victory so comprehensive that the 37-year-old would never fight again.

“I will definitely make him feel 37 years vintage,” Fury said Queensberry Promotions.

– He’ll be there with the Gypsy King, not whoever I was last time.

“I feel very good and I can’t wait for Saturday’s fight.

Usyk performed brilliantly, defeating Fury in the first fight. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Usyk performed brilliantly, defeating Fury in the first fight. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

“I’m going to end him, end his career.

“You will never hear from Oleksandr Usyk again after this.”

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UK Boxing

Referee Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk has always played a controversial role

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Roberto Ramirez Jnr has been appointed referee for the highly anticipated rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, and his past has been controversial.

The two heavyweight titans will clash again next weekend, with the “Gypsy King” looking to settle the score following his first professional loss to the Ukrainian in May in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

However, main center Ramirez Jnr, who will be overseeing the fight, has been embroiled in controversy before. Last year he officiated Chantelle Cameron’s high-profile rematch with Katie Taylor, in which Cameron became the first to defeat the Irish star before losing in the next fight. After the match, Cameron’s coach Jamie Moore criticized Ramirez Jnr, blaming him for Cameron’s defeat.

“She’s clearly devastated, you can imagine,” Moore revealed to BBC 5 Live Boxing. “She just feels like this whole scenario was set up for her to lose. In a way, we were determined to prove everyone wrong, just like we did last time. But last time she got away with it. I’m not saying, “First of all, I just want to say that from what I watched, it was a close fight that could have gone either way.”

“We were denied a knockdown in the first round, which should have happened. The knockdown is 100% justified. Before the fight, I was begging the referee in the locker room, please, she got away with it last time, holding tight. My athlete’s best work is close. Please don’t let her hold you like last time. And he let her do worse this time than last time. After securing victory, brawler Bray became the undisputed world champion in two weight classes.

Cameron herself later expressed doubts about the referee’s choice for their rematch with Taylor, speaking to BBC Radio Northampton: ‘It wasn’t just me and Katie in that ring. If that were the case, I would have accepted defeat and said I had won the better women that night. I had everything against me. The referee that night… it was such a high level fight, why would you hire a referee no one had heard of. It’s not my job, it’s my job, it’s my job to fight, don’t look at who’s refereeing, I’m just frustrated – if I could go back, I’d make sure everything was taken into account.

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UK Boxing

Eddie Hearn turns heads in Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 pick

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Tyson Fury has promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Eddie Hearn has picked Tyson Fury to win his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk after initially siding with the Ukrainian team. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing/Top Rank
Eddie Hearn has picked Tyson Fury to win his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk after initially siding with the Ukrainian team. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing/Top Rank

Eddie Hearn has changed his mind about the outcome of Saturday’s rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.

Hearn will be a guest pundit on Riyad’s DAZN broadcast as Fury looks to exact revenge on Usyk, seven months after losing his undefeated record to the Ukrainian in the same arena via split decision.

The Matchroom boss initially sided with Usyk and secured his second victory in a row over “The Gypsy King”.

“I think it’s demanding for anyone to pick Tyson Fury to win the fight with balance,” Hearn said. talkSPORT.

“I think it will be an incredibly close fight. I think the last one was too.

Tyson Fury promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Tyson Fury promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

“But I think given what we saw from Usyk in the first fight, his ability to absorb information, I think he’s very complex to put.

“I want Fury to win, I think he can win.

“I think he will have to do something extraordinary that we have seen before.

“But I think with common sense it is very complex not to choose Oleksandr Usyk in this fight.”

Fury took a disastrous ninth round to a eternal eight count before reaching the final bell and earlier this week vowed to end the 37-year-old’s career, although his promoter Frank Warren insists a third fight will be booked if he emerges victorious.

However, Hearn has now changed his mind and is backing his compatriot to seek revenge for the only loss of his professional career.

“I expect another really close fight on Saturday,” said the 45-year-old Boxing in the match room.

“I choose Tyson Fury for many reasons.

“I just have a sneaky feeling.”

Hearn will be present on the DAZN broadcast of the Usyk vs Fury 2 match. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Hearn will be present on the DAZN broadcast of the Usyk vs Fury 2 match. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

“You start focusing on your pre-fight preparations.

“I saw these things yesterday [at the grand arrivals].

“I thought he looked very relaxed.

“Usyk talks really cocky, really different.

“I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but I’m going with Tyson Fury and Tyson Fury on points.”

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