SO OFTEN it has been Tyson Fury who has defied the odds.
From making an improbable comeback from depression to dragging himself off the canvas on four occasions against Deontay Wilder.
But on an historic night in the desert, he fell agonisingly short.
Instead, it was Oleksandr Usyk's turn as he became the division's only ruler, taking Fury's WBC belt to add to his WBA, WBO and IBF titles.
And a few hours after leaving the ring exhausted, Usyk was back on his feet.
Perhaps not displaying the menacing footwork with which he stalked Fury during their fightdefining ninth round. But with remarkable energy for a man who had become the first to topple the giant Brit over 12 enthralling rounds.
Usyk gathered with his team to support fellow Ukrainian Denys Berinchyk in his world title fight 8,000 miles away in San Diego.
This story is from the May 20, 2024 edition of Daily Star.
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This story is from the May 20, 2024 edition of Daily Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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