Oleksandr Usyk has reaffirmed his place at the top of the boxing world following his contentious split-decision victory over Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia. Despite being undersized relative to the towering Fury, Usyk‘s endurance and relentlessness helped him turn around this highly-anticipated bout — and after 12 rounds, the Ukrainian had narrowly won the WBA and WBO heavyweight titles.
Usyk laid bare his emotions following the fight at Kingdom Arena in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. The 37-year-old was boxing with a heavy heart in light of personal tragedy, which he discussed with reporters after he had successfully fought off Fury.
Usyk remembers his father on a triumphant night
As Usyk ran his career record to 22-0 — this being his eighth win via decision — “the Cat” made it clear for whom and for what he was fighting on this historic night. In fact, Usyk’s very first words after he became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era were dedicated to his late father.
“Can you hear me?” Usyk asked from the Kingdom Arena ring. “We have done this!”
Later, Usyk was able to elaborate on what his father has meant to his boxing career. While meeting with the media after the fight, a tearful Usyk told reporters that he felt his dad was sitting in their midst, with him to celebrate his victory.
“For me, it is hard when my father comes back to me because I remember all life,” Usyk said, implying he continues to dream about the man who raised him. “I know he is here, maybe sitting out there.”
Usyk was seen wiping tears away with his shirt while reminiscing about his father, who died shortly after the Cat won gold at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. The raw honesty came at the end of a grueling bout that had been prefaced by months of preparation, which caused Usyk to miss his two sons’ birthdays — as well as his older daughter’s birthday, and the birth of his youngest daughter. But through it all, the memory of Usyk’s dad lingered, and it helped inspire him to the biggest win of his career.
“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.
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