Quick Reactions: Usyk beats Fury and places himself with all-time greats

If there was a single remaining doubt that Oleksandr Usyk deserved to be a real blue, bona fide, first poll Corridor of Famer when he retires from the game of boxing — and there shouldn’t have been — that ended at the moment, when he turned undisputed heavyweight champion of the world in his win over Tyson Fury.

Usyk, 33, added to his listing of achievements and accolades with one other excellent efficiency, and made his personal very clear case to be known as the No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer on the earth at the moment. It’s not taking something away from Naoya Inoue or Terence “Bud” Crawford; if it was a two-man race earlier than, it’s a three-man race now. These are real nice fighters, all of them.

World Beginner champion, Olympic gold medalist, undisputed cruiserweight world champion, undisputed heavyweight world champion. Oleksandr Usyk is, merely, particular. All-time particular.

As for Tyson Fury, the good huge man misplaced to the good “little” man. He was flat out-boxed for an excessive amount of of the combat, although one choose did have him a 114-113 winner, which is seven to 5 in rounds for Fury, counting the eighth spherical knockdown in opposition to him.

A rematch really appears completely welcome for as soon as. There’s no actual burning must see Usyk face an “improved” Anthony Joshua for a 3rd time, as he’s overwhelmed Joshua clearly twice already, and Joshua’s the following title in line in the intervening time. Usyk vs Fury 2 gained’t be as huge as this combat, however there’s loads of angle there — Fury’s revenge, Usyk trying to show it was no “fluke” or “theft” which the Fury camp may be anticipated to border it as within the coming hours, days, weeks, and months.

And it was a rattling good combat, interval. We noticed two terrific professionals on their recreation enjoying the techniques with each other, momentum shifts and stellar boxing throughout, not one thing you get a ton of within the heavyweight division of the final 20, 30, 40 years, decide no matter timeframe you want greatest that least insults your childhood recollections.

Elsewhere on the cardboard:

Jai Opetaia actually does seem like the clear greatest cruiserweight within the sport at the moment, even when his rematch win over Mairis Briedis wasn’t precisely one for the spotlight reels. If he stays at cruiserweight, the largest combat can be in opposition to the Billam-Smith vs Riakporhe winner. If he doesn’t, then he’ll should take his time well including weight to maneuver as much as heavyweight. On the Briedis facet, it’s a query of whether or not he fights once more in any respect. He was robust and in form and all that, however has he executed all he’s going to do? Most likely, in order that leaves the query of what extra goal he has to maintain going.

Photograph by Nick Potts/PA Photos through Getty Photos

Anthony Cacace will get some criticism for the punch on the break that appeared to be the foundation undoing of Joe Cordina, however Cacace leaves with the IBF tremendous featherweight title, his first actual, acknowledged world title win, and in an upset. There’s an honest argument for these two to run it again, and you must assume Cacace can be assured of repeating the success as a result of he put a beating on Cordina for probably the most half right here. I don’t assume you’ll be able to put it all on the one shot knocking Cordina out of types.

What a breakout run in Saudi Arabia for Agit Kabayel, huh? You must be keen to confess that Frank Sanchez did look hindered on account of some kind of knee damage, however Kabayel’s fashion and body-focused assault is so refreshing for the heavyweight division, as is his lack of curiosity in taking part in lame, laid-out “trash speak” and loud call-outs. The person exhibits up, wins, and is comfortable to have placed on a present, in search of the following problem that can come. He’s turning into one of many sport’s most likable fighters, and knocking out Sanchez was a press release, even should you put a small asterisk for the knee.

Robin Safar didn’t precisely appear like a critical rising cruiserweight contender in his win over a badly light, 41-year-old Sergey Kovalev, however he bought the win and, as one commentator put it, may be headed towards one thing he can’t deal with in consequence. Kovalev is a shadow of the person who as soon as dominated the sunshine heavyweight division, and by the center rounds seemed like he didn’t a lot care to be there in any respect, however was attempting to poke and survive his approach to a win. Didn’t occur. Kovalev additionally bought dropped exhausting late within the tenth and last spherical. Kovalev is completed, and I’d recommend not getting too excited by Safar’s prospects, however yeah, this “huge” win may get him a title combat or one thing.

Cruiserweight prospect David Nyika nonetheless has loads to work on, which was evident regardless of how comparatively simply he beat Michael Seitz. It was the kind of matchup the place if Nyika is even two-thirds of what he’s hoped to be, it’d be simple, and it was, except Seitz had been a real hidden gem, and he clearly wasn’t.

Neither light-weight Mark Chamberlain nor heavyweight Moses Itauma bought an opportunity to essentially present a lot of something, however they did their jobs, getting a TKO-1 and a TKO-2, respectively. The 2 males are at very totally different phases on their climbs up the ladder, however they’re doing the assignments as requested.