Oleksandr Usyk in Tears for Late Father After Historic Heavyweight Win

An emotional Oleksandr Usyk (37) shed tears for his late father after capping a brilliant career by becoming boxing’s first four-belt undisputed heavyweight world champion on Sunday.

The Ukrainian secured a split decision victory over Britain’s Tyson Fury in Riyadh, marking the first heavyweight unification bout since 1999.

Usyk, a former European and world amateur champion, Olympic gold medalist, and undisputed cruiserweight champion, remains undefeated as a professional and now holds the ultimate boxing accolade.

Following the fight, Usyk, who required four stitches for a cut above his right eye and was set to undergo a jaw scan at the hospital, paid tribute to his father, who passed away shortly after Usyk’s Olympic triumph in 2012.

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“I miss my father,” Usyk said, wiping his tears with his T-shirt. “I know he’s here.”

Usyk had missed his children’s birthdays and even the birth of his daughter during his eight-month training camp for the Fury fight, which was initially scheduled for February but postponed due to a cut Fury sustained in training.

His promoter, Alex Krassyuk, believed Usyk was denied a knockout victory when the referee intervened as Fury appeared on the verge of going down in the ninth round.

“I believe the referee saved Tyson from a knockout and stole the ninth-round knockout, which should have happened,” Krassyuk said.

However, Usyk stated: “No knockout, no problem.”

“I don’t think about it because we had a win.”