In a heart-wrenching moment, undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk broke down in tears during a post-fight news conference when asked about his late father. The 37-year-old Ukrainian claimed a split decision victory against Tyson Fury to become the first four-belt era undisputed heavyweight champion.
Usyk, who lost his father shortly after winning gold at the 2012 Olympics, opened up about his emotional journey. “I miss my father and I said to him ‘you live there and I live here, please don’t come for me, I love you’,” Usyk said, tears streaming down his face. “For me it is hard when my father comes back to me because I remember all life. I know he is here, maybe sitting out there [in the press room].”
The fight, initially scheduled for February, was postponed due to a cut suffered by Fury. Usyk had to extend his camp to ensure he remained in top shape physically and mentally. “My camp started in September 2023, I worked for nine months,” Usyk shared. “I missed Happy New Year, my son’s birthday, my daughter’s birthday, and family holidays. I was only focused on this fight, now I’m happy and I want to go back home.”
While both fighters had agreed to an immediate rematch clause, they showed reluctance to fully commit to it. Fury expressed his desire to take some time off to spend with his family and discuss his future in boxing with his team. The defeat marks the first loss in Fury’s 36-fight career, and both fighters will need time to process the outcome before deciding on their next steps in the ring.