Oleksandr Usyk called for an undisputed fight with WBC champion Tyson Fury after beating Anthony Joshua, threatening to retire if he did not get his way.
Usyk and Joshua competed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with the IBF, WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine belts on the line, and while the Briton put on a much improved display compared to the September 2021 outing, it was the Ukrainian who took victory.
The 35-year-old former undisputed cruiserweight champion is aiming to repeat the trick at heavyweight, and while nominally retired, many believe WBC champion Fury will step back into the ring for the chance to claim all four belts.
After winning by split decision, Usyk said in the ring: "I'm sure that Tyson Fury is not retired yet.
"I'm sure, I'm convinced he wants to fight me. I want to fight him and if I'm not fighting Tyson Fury, I'm not fighting at all."
Usyk also paid tribute to his country and specifically those fighting against the Russian invasion.
"I did all this victory for my country, for all people, militaries who are defending the country," Usyk stated. "Thank you very, very much."
"This is already historic.
"Many generations are going to watch this fight, especially the round when someone tried to beat me hard, but I withstood it and turned it in a different way."