RIYADH, May 19, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - An emotional Oleksandr Usyk shed tears for
his late father after crowning a brilliant career by becoming boxing's first
four-belt undisputed heavyweight world champion on Sunday.

The 37-year-old Ukrainian won a split decision against Britain's Tyson Fury
in Riyadh in the first heavyweight unification fight since 1999.

The former European and world amateur champion, Olympic gold medallist and
undisputed cruiserweight champ -- still undefeated as a professional – now
adds the ultimate boxing crown.

Afterwards Usyk, who needed four stitches to a cut above his right eye, and
who was headed to hospital for a scan of his jaw, remembered his father, who
died shortly after his Olympic victory in 2012.

"I miss my father," he said, wiping his tears with his T-shirt. "I know he's
here."

Usyk has missed children's birthdays and even the birth of his daughter
during his eight-month camp for the Fury fight, originally scheduled for
February before the Briton suffered a cut in training.

His promoter Alex Krassyuk believed that Usyk was denied a knock-out victory
when the referee stepped in as Fury looked about to hit the deck in round
nine.

"I believe the referee saved Tyson from a knock-out and stole the ninth-round
knock-out, which should have happened," Krassyuk said.

But Usyk said: "No knock-out, no problem."

"I don't think about it because we had a win."