Saturday night played host to the coronation of a new heavyweight legend as Oleksandr Usyk etched his name into the history books by becoming the first four-belt undisputed heavyweight champion of the division with a legendary win over Tyson Fury.
Ahead of the contest, many felt that the physical advantages of ‘The Gypsy King’ could prove too much for the natural cruiserweight, although the footwork and boxing IQ of the slick Ukrainian technician saw Usyk able to negate those assets by dictating the distance that the contest was fought at and the position inside of the ring in which key exchanges were had.
Since the victory, there has been an expectation that the pair will meet again due to the two-way rematch-clause that was installed into the initial fight contract, allowing Fury to activate his rights to a second clash and a shot at revenge against the only man to have defeated him in a professional ring.
On Instagram, former cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion David Haye offered his thoughts on what was an incredible war in Riyadh but also admitted that he doesn’t feel as though there will be a rematch.
“Oleksandr Usyk dethroned Tyson Fury to gain every single belt that there is in the heavyweight division. So that is the clean sweep, he done it at heavyweight and he done it at cruiserweight. What heart, what determination, what a strategy and game plan.
“I wasn’t expecting Usyk to be able to stick it on Tyson Fury the way that he did, he didn’t leave him alone and that is exactly what he said to him before the fight – ‘I won’t leave you alone’.
“He stayed on him for every second, he was out of range and then he was back in range, just kept pressing and he burnt Tyson Fury out, his gas tank got lower and lower and lower and he had nothing left.
“The right man won and I am not sure that there is going to be a rematch, I’m not feeling a rematch for one reason or another but what a fight and Usyk – you are a legend.”
At the age of 37-years-old, Usyk has won an Olympic gold medal and completely conquered both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, defeating the biggest stars of each division and overcoming the odds on numerous occasions.
This has thrown doubt as to whether Usyk could choose to hang up the gloves and become the second every heavyweight world champion to retire with an undefeated record, joining Rocky Marciano in the elite club, with nothing left to give to the sport.
However, Tyson Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has maintained that talks for a rematch will commence shortly, with plans for the pair to meet in Saudi Arabia in October. Although, this time it may not be for the undisputed title, following reports of the IBF’s plan to strip Usyk of his world title in the coming days.
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