NEW footage has emerged of Oleksandr Usyk peppering Tyson Fury with punches during their blockbuster bout.
The Ukrainian won via a split decision in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night as the Gypsy King suffered defeat for the first time in his career.
Usyk is now the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis 25 years ago.
Key to his victory was his brutal round nine performance.
Usyk launched a fantastic attack with several powerful shots that left Fury dazed.
The Brit ended up stumbling around the ring, with only the ropes holding him up before the bell saved him.
Despite not hitting the deck, an official knockdown was scored.
And now a video taken from ringside has come to light that shows just how close Fury came to being knocked out.
The clip posted on Usyk’s YouTube channel from a never before seen angle gives fans a sense of how hard his shots were and how dizzy Fury looked.
Fans reacted to the footage, with one saying: “Fury didn’t even want to continue.. the ref practically went to pull him to come forward after the standing eight count.”
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Another added: “Usyk is the most kind boxer ever. Had it been someone else, he would have ‘finished him’.”
A third reacted: “Usyk has just proven that he is the best boxer in this era. Fury isn’t the same fighter anymore.”
More commented: “Referee was Tyson’s best friend in that moment. Usyk is the clear winner no matter what anyone says. That’s what a real champion does he lets his actions do the talking.”
On it not be a knockout win, Usyk said: “No knockout, no problem. I don’t think about it because we had a win.”
Although Fury disagreed, saying in the ring: “I believe I won that fight. He won a few of those rounds but I won the majority.
“What can you do, one of them daft decisions in boxing.
“We’ve all put on a good fight, the best we can do.
“His country is at war so people are siding with a country at war but make no mistake, I won that fight in my opinion and I’ll be back. I’ve got a rematch clause.
“I’ve thanked Jesus for all the victories that he has given me, I’ve had a split decision loss to a good little man, and I thank him again.”
For all the love for resurgent AJ… these two are head, shoulders and fists ahead of everyone else
OLEKSANDR USYK is the deserved undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, writes Wally Downes Jr
A great biggun doesn’t always beat a great littleun, not when David has the weight of a besieged nation on his shoulders and is able to swing each compatriot into every punch.
Usyk did what Usyk does, he moved magnificently, he counter punched and he outworked his taller and heavier opponent.
He somehow manages to use every physical disadvantage to his favour.
But what the hell is Fury doing getting up in round nine?
Why is a father-of-eight with £300million in the bank, three best-selling books and a Netflix series going to the well like?
Britain is not fighting back Putin’s army, Morecambe is not occupied.
So when the 35-year-old’s senses are scrambled, when the canvas is calling him, when he is so desperate not to be felled he is willing to bounce around all the ropes like a drunk, when he eventually has to collapse into a corner, why doesn’t he just stay down?
He has earned the right to surrender as well as his millions.
The sheer courage and guts and bloody mindedness it takes to climb off that deck, with a broken nose and a crumbling ego is not comprehensible to us mortals.
Fury said he felt he won the fight but was too dignified to call robbery or corruption, no doubt his dad will taint that decency by the time you’ve read this.
The rematch will be superb.
Because for all the love we have for a resurgent Anthony Joshua – who was ringside for that iconic event – these two polar opposite men are head, shoulders, fists, hearts and brains ahead of everyone else.
There is the top two, then there is a void and then there is the rest.
Read Wally’s big fight verdict in full here…