OLEKSANDR THE GREATEST

In handing Fury his first defeat, Usyk confirmed himself as the best heavyweight of his era

- MARTIN DOMIN

SO often it has been Tyson Fury who has defied the odds.

From making an improbable comeback from his drink-and-drug-fuelled 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 flipped the script of his undisputed fight to become the division's only ruler.

And a few hours after the exhausted champion was led tentatively from the ring, Usyk was back on his feet.

Perhaps not displaying the menacing footwork with which he stalked Fury during their fight-defining ninth round.

But with remarkable energy for a man who had become the first to topple the giant Brit over 12 enthralling rounds.

Usyk passed up the opportunity to sleep and instead gathered with his teammates to support fellow Ukrainian Denys Berinchyk in his world title fight 8,000 miles away in San Diego.