In a historic moment for the world of boxing, Oleksandr Usyk has emerged as the new undisputed heavyweight champion. Usyk, hailing from Ukraine, defeated Tyson Fury in a highly-anticipated fight that ended in a split decision. The victory not only marked Usyk's remarkable achievement but also prompted heartfelt reflections on his late father.

During the post-fight press conference, Usyk, visibly emotional, shared his thoughts on his late father, who passed away in 2012. He recounted a recent dream in which he had a conversation with his father, stating, "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 admitted that it was his first dream about his father before the momentous bout and acknowledged the difficulty of seeing him again. "For me, it is hard when my father comes back to me because I remember all life. I know he is here, maybe sitting out there," he expressed, gesturing toward the press room.

At 37 years old, Usyk has become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era since Lennox Lewis achieved the feat 25 years ago. Two judges scored the fight 115-112 and 114-113 in Usyk's favor, with the third judge awarding Fury a score of 114-113. This victory added the WBC title to Usyk's already held WBA, IBF, and WBO belts, solidifying his dominance in the division.

Notably, Usyk took a moment to honor the soldiers defending his country amidst the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He expressed that the triumph was not only significant for him but a "big win for my country," highlighting the importance of national pride in his boxing journey.

Fury, on the other hand, voiced his disagreement with the judges' decision during his post-fight interview. He claimed he "won that fight" and suggested that people were biased against him due to the ongoing conflict. The British boxer also believed he was leading the fight before the final round. "If my corner would have said in the final round, 'Go out and finish it,' I would have - but we all thought we were up," he explained. Despite his disappointment, Fury acknowledged that the fight was a closely contested one, with one judge favoring his victory.

The road to this momentous battle was marred with months of rescheduling and cancellations, leaving both fighters in an extended nine-month training period. Initially set for December 23, 2023, the fight was delayed until February 2024 due to Fury's demanding previous bout against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Just before the rescheduled date, the fight faced another setback when Fury suffered an eyebrow cut during a sparring session, necessitating another postponement.

Reflecting on the arduous journey leading up to the fight, Usyk revealed the sacrifices he had made, stating, "Nine months I worked... I missed the birth of my daughter, I missed all my family holidays... Now I'm happy, I want to go home, go to my church, pray." The Ukrainian boxer seemed reluctant to discuss the possibility of a rematch, brushing off the topic during the press conference despite a previously scheduled rematch in October.

In a parallel sentiment, Fury echoed his opponent's sentiment, emphasizing that he did not want to think about another fight just yet. At 36 years old, the British boxer expressed contemplation, questioning, "Where does it end?" while underscoring his love for the sport.

As the boxing world celebrates Oleksandr Usyk's remarkable achievement, his emotional tribute to his father emphasizes the personal journeys of the athletes beyond their accomplishments in the ring. The bout between Usyk and Fury will be remembered as a hard-fought encounter, resonating with fans and leaving the door open for future challenges and potential rematches.