The fight, dubbed “the fight of the century,” was a dramatic spectacle, with Fury surviving a brutal knockout in the ninth round. Despite his victory, Usyk was rushed to the hospital with a suspected broken jaw, an injury sustained during the intense battle.
Usyk’s victory, while monumental, may be short-lived in terms of his undisputed status. Boxing journalist Dan Rafael reported that Usyk’s time as the undisputed champion could last less than two weeks. Both Fury and Usyk’s contracts dictate that they must vacate the IBF title ahead of the overdue mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic’s bout with Daniel Dubois. This means Usyk may only be able to call himself the undisputed champion for a matter of weeks.
Tyson Fury, when asked about the split decision and the possibility that the judges favored Usyk because of the war in Ukraine, responded pragmatically. “It was what it was. It’s not up to the fighters. One of the judges had me winning, two of them didn’t. It was what it was,” Fury stated, indicating his acceptance of the decision despite the disappointment.
Due to his injury, Oleksandr Usyk will not be participating in the post-fight press conference. The broken jaw, which has landed him in the hospital, underscores the brutal nature of the fight and the toll it took on both fighters.
The aftermath of this historic bout leaves several questions unanswered. The contractual obligations regarding the IBF title mean the undisputed status is in flux, and fans are left to speculate about future matchups. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining the immediate future of the heavyweight division and the legacy of both Usyk and Fury.