Hearn: "Joshua Said Usyk Won Easily"

Promoter and Head of Matchroom Boxing Eddie Hearn shared his impressions of the fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship (over 90.7 kg) between Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) and Tyson Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs).

"I think Usyk won the fight. I think it was close. I barely gave Usyk any of the first six rounds. I thought Fury controlled everything and looked fantastic in the seventh and eighth. The ninth round was incredibly strong for Usyk – I don't know how Fury survived it. In an undisputed championship fight, when a boxer doesn't touch the canvas, I don't think the fight should be stopped, but Fury was completely out of gas.

Usyk showed so much courage to come back into the fight. When you look back, you give Usyk 115-113. Someone had a wider margin, but I'm not sure anyone scored it for Fury. I think the right guy won.

Are there talks of Usyk retiring? I don't think so. I think he will assess his chances in a rematch. I believe Fury needs to fight on the front foot. At times, Usyk looked a bit tired. But Usyk is also a genius.

Joshua thought Usyk won. He said Usyk won easily. I thought it was very close. Again, scoring is subjective. I believe Fury boxed fantastically well in the first six rounds. I thought he was on his way to winning either by stoppage or decision, but Usyk is incredible," said Hearn.

The fight lasted all 12 rounds and ended with Usyk winning by split decision. In the 9th round, after a prolonged attack by Usyk, the referee began counting a knockdown for Fury while he was still on his feet but close to hitting the canvas.

Oleksandr Usyk is the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis, who achieved the feat in a rematch against Evander Holyfield on November 13, 1999.