In a see-saw battle, Oleksandr Usyk defeats Tyson Fury to become undisputed heavyweight champion

Call him undisputed. 

After losing round six big and falling behind on the scorecards, Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) rallied to floor Tyson Fury (34-1, 24 KOs) in round nine - going on to win the fight by 12-round split decision to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

"Thank you to my team," said Usyk. "For my country."

Scores were 115-112 Usyk, 114-113 Fury, and 114-113 Usyk.

Maxboxing scored the fight 115-112 Usyk. 

In the opening stanza, Fury, who danced into the ring moments before, ran to the center of the ring to meet Usyk. Fury jabbed and moved - while Usyk chased and went to the body. Fury showboated with a long left. 

Southpaw Usyk landed a combination in round two. Fury ate the punch and laughed. His jab scored. Usyk connected with another left - while Fury went to the body. The WBC champion caught Usyk with a solid uppercut. 

Usyk came out punching in round three. Fury landed the old 1-2. Both fighters bobbed and feinted. Usyk, pushing the action, connected with a left and right. Fury connected with a quick right. Usyk forced Fury into the ropes and landed. 

In round four, Usyk landed a right. Fury went to the body. Usyk connected upstairs. Fury landed with another uppercut. Usyk tattooed Fury with shots. Fury stabbed Usyk with a left. Usyk was bleeding slightly from a cut near his left eye.

Usyk bounced out to meet Fury in the next heat. He forced the action, as he had since the round one. Fury pounded the body. He fired more punches that landed. Usyk jabbed, but the round was Fury’s. Fury looked for the uppercut in round six. Usyk landed a left. Fury backed off but fired a combination. Usyk wobbled. Fury landed another heavy combination. Usyk ate the shots, but had Fury found the answer? 

It looked like it until Usyk cracked Fury with blows in round seven. He suddenly looked rejuvenated. Fury moved around, but Usyk clipped him repeatably. 

Fury came out punching in round eight, but Usyk landed. He worked the body. Fury chopped with a right. Usyk, feeling it, fired a combination that scored. Seconds later, a sharp right bounced off the face of a now bloody Fury. 

Usyk tried to build off his success in round nine. Fury missed with a right. Usyk clipped Fury with a left. Fury fired back. Usyk clipped Fury with two lefts. Fury landed a good right. Usyk cracked Fury with a big combination that caused Fury to stagger around the ring. He almost went down. Referee Mark Nelson stepped in and gave the big man a standing eight count. Fury was lucky to hear the bell.  

In round 10, Usyk went back to work. Fury was still hurt. Usyk worked over Fury on the ropes. Usyk landed a big left. Fury took it. Usyk was tired. He still landed a combination as Fury moved away.

With two rounds to go, the see-saw battle was close.  

In round 11, Fury jabbed. Usyk landed a long left. Usyk went downstairs. He’d soon go up and to the head. Fury landed an uppercut. Usyk pushed him into the ropes and connected. Fury moved away but ate another shot at the bell. 

The last round could tell the story. Usyk jabbed and landed a left. Fury battled back. Usyk connected with two overhand lefts. Fury scored with a right. Usyk landed a right. Fury stunned Usyk with a clubbing blow. Usyk fought back and appeared to win the round.