By Geoffrey Ciani – 05/20/2024 – Comments
It finally happened after more than 24 long years. We finally have another undisputed world heavyweight, and it was an event that lived up to its lofty expectations.
The last time we had an undisputed world heavyweight championship bout happened all the way back in November 1999. At that time the heavyweight boxing division was already experiencing the second longest gap without one, having been just short of 7 years since Riddick Bowe last held that distinction in December 1992. Prior to that the longest gap had been nearly 10 years between Leon Spinks and Iron Mike Tyson.
That November ‘99 showdown between unified WBA/IBF heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield and the WBC and lineal world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis was a rematch of their bout from 8 months earlier in March. That one was supposed to produce a new undisputed world heavyweight champion, but that one ended in a controversial draw where most observers believed Lewis had done enough to deserve the victory. The rematch settled matters, and this time Lennox was awarded a unanimous decision victory to become the undisputed king of the heavyweight division. It did not last long, however, as a few months later in April 2000, the WBA stripped Lennox of their championship belt, and that was the last time we had an undisputed world heavyweight champion.
Until now.
In a battle of two undefeated heavyweight champions, unified IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk defeated the WBC and lineal world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury to become the first undisputed world heavyweight champion since the great Lennox Lewis. That victory marks Usyk as the first undisputed world heavyweight champion in the modern 4 belt era, and it likewise marks him as just the second boxer in history to become the undisputed champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, placing Usyk in exclusive company with Holyfield.
This edition of Rummy’s Corner will provide a quick review of Oleksandr Usyk’s sensational victory against Tyson Fury, a victory that made boxing history on several fronts. Please watch and enjoy the video for one man’s opinion. This is Rummy’s Corner (produced and narrated by Geoffrey Ciani).
