Fury vs Usyk LIVE: Fight reaction and undercard results after split decision

“No knockout, no problem, but the 12th round was a big drama,” Usyk says, before dismissing the potential for Tyson Fury to avoid a rematch and fight Anthony Joshua instead.

“I don’t think about boxing now. Nine months I work. I missed my son and daughter. I missed all my family. Family holidays.

“Training, training, training. My focus was on this fight. Now, I’m happy. I want to go back home, go to church and pray.”

Alex Krassyuk maintains referee Mark Nelson “stole” victory from Oleksandr Usyk in the ninth round.

“He had to win in the ninth, the referee stole victory,” says Krassyuk, Usyk’s promoter.

“How can you be happy with the scorecards today? Impossible. 7-5 minimum to Usyk.

“Minus one point for Fury and the knockdown.”

“He thought Usyk won, he said, ‘Usyk won it easy,’” Hearn told IFLTV before pulling a face when he confirmed to Joshua his own opinion, “I had it quite close.

“Again, scoring is subjective. I thought Fury boxed fantastically well in the first six rounds. I thought he was well on his way to boxing to a stoppage or a decision but Usyk is incredible.”

“I thought Usyk won the fight,” Hearn told IFLTV. “I thought it was close, I struggled to give Usyk of the first six. I thought Fury was in control and looked fantastic, seven, eight, nine, was obviously massive, how he survived I don’t know? In an undisputed fight, when the guy doesn’t touch the canvas, I don’t think so. But he showed so much bottle to come back. Not sure that, to compose himself into 10. 10, 11, 12… I thought 12 was quite close. I guess when you look back on that, you score it 115-113 to Usyk, some had it wider, I’m not sure anybody had it for Fury. I thought the right man won.

“They’re talking about Usyk retiring? I don’t think so. I think he’ll fancy his chances. I think Fury has to switch it up on the front foot. I thought Usyk looked a little bit tired at times. Usyk is also a genius. He’s so undersized, the disadvantage against a man of that size, to overcome that, you’re talking one of the best fighters of his generation.”

“Not really, this is their night tonight. We want to regain the world heavyweight title,” Hearn told IFLTV.

“So whoever has got it, has got it. The rematch looks to be set for October. Is that Wembley? We’ll see what happens on 1 June.”

Terence Crawford has made a case for Oleksandr Usyk to be the pound-for-pound No 1 fighter in the world.

Usually heavyweights do not appear on the mythical list of the sport’s best fighters, but with a previous reign at cruiserweight, Crawford has tipped up Usyk to top the rankings.

“Man y’all better put some respect on Usyk,” said the American.

“He is definitely a candidate for No 1 P4P fighter in the world. I’m no hater. He beat the man that beat the man in a bigger division, giving what he’s already done. Salute brother!”

Lennox Lewis said: “His heavyweight journey is still being written but I don’t think ANYONE can take away from his INCREDIBLE accomplishments.

“Gold medal. Undisputed cruiserweight champ and now undisputed heavyweight champ? Definitely puts him rare air.

“Welcome to the club!”

Usyk outpointed Fury in Riyadh to become the first undisputed heavyweight world champion in 24 years, triumphing by split decision on the judges’ scorecards.

But Usyk was rushed away from the Kingdom Arena for medical attention with Fury revealing at the post-fight press conference that his rival has suffered a “broken jaw”.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen. I think I need to do more of the same. Keep my defence a bit tighter. Be a bit more focused.

“Not so much messing around, I was having fun in there. I thought I was bossing the fight.

“I hit him both sides of the body, crack, crack.”