Fury delivered the knockout punch in the 11th round
Tyson Fury delivered an exciting knockout from Deontay Wilder in the 11th
Twenty months since Fury dethroned the American, the 33-year-old has had to show all his determination and resilience to expand his unbeaten professional record to 32 fights after being flat twice in the fourth round.
Fury sent his opponent into an explosive third, only to see Wilder recover and the Briton find himself on the end of the bronze bomber’s giant right hand twice in quick succession.
Wilder held out at the end of the seventh but was still in a grueling fight on the 10th when Fury knocked him down again before delivering the final blow on the 11th to end this particular chapter of heavyweight boxing.
“I’ve been down a couple of times, I’ve been injured, Wilder’s a tough puncher,” said Fury.
“It was a great fight. I won’t find any excuses, Wilder is a top fighter, he gave me a run for my money. I always say I’m the best fighter in the world and he’s the second best.”
“Never doubt me. When the chips are down, I can always deliver.”
Fury celebrates in the ring with his belt and his entourage, including his wife Paris
Fury shows that he will never be beaten
This may not be the fight Fury wanted, but after a controversial tie in their first meeting in 2018 and the break in Fury’s seventh round last time, it once again delivered the blockbuster fight that saw the crowd in Las Vegas longed.
Tensions had simmered throughout the week of the fight and only continued to simmer as Wilder’s late entry kept the arena waiting before the lights finally went out and the American, who cited his elaborate and heavy ring-walk outfit as one of the excuses for his loss, Fury appeared in a simpler, fur-lined dress last year.
But what are a few minutes if this classic scramble had been in the making for over a year?
Fury, disguised as a Roman centurion, followed the backdrop of AC / DC as both fighters kicked the ropes for the first time since their explosive encounter at the MGM Grand in February 2020.
That was before the pandemic and the Morecambe boxer was backed by the thousands of British fans who had flocked to Las Vegas to support their attack, though travel restrictions meant there would never be the boisterous following for the British hopefuls this time around .
But the local support couldn’t help but be enthusiastic about Fury once more when he proved once again that although he is on screen, this man can never be written off.
Wilder came out to dictate a series of blows to the body from the opening bell while Fury took the time to assess a converted opponent. A new trainer Malik Scott says he showed more in his toolbox than before.
Wilder’s new regime stood amid question marks about Fury’s own preparation – the original summer fight date was canceled when he caught Covid-19 and quickly postponed to October and Fury then had to rush home to the UK to be the sixth for the birth of her wife Paris Child, Athena.
The American had closed the gap in terms of weight as well, and although Fury was carrying 39 pounds more than his opponent, both were 19 at 19.
But it was Fury who began to dominate after Wilder’s lively opening exchange and a huge left-right combo sent the Alabaman down.
The 35-year-old survived the count and, rejuvenated by the bell, defeated Fury for the fourth time with his own mammoth, followed by another to bring the champion down twice in the same round for the first time in his career. as the anticipation for a surprise grew.
From then on, however, the anger rose and a determined savage had held out several rounds when he was knocked down again in the 10th before the champion finally landed a right that ended the fight after 11 gripping rounds.
Referee Russell Mora calls the fight after Wilder is flat for the third time
“I am the greatest heavyweight champion of my era”
Fury has taken on every challenge, but to become the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000, he must claim the title from Oleksandr Usyk.
The Ukrainian looks like he will compete in a rematch against Anthony Joshua first to see if the Brit can win his WBF, IBF and WBO crowns back, but for Fury there is no doubt who is the biggest heavyweight of this enticing era.
“I’ve proven time and time again that I can never be written off,” he added. “I didn’t have my best performance, but I got it out of the bag when I needed to.
“He kept getting up, but it was the last right hand on the side of his head that was killing him.
“I wasn’t hurt. You get hit, you wake up on the floor. I got up and was conscious the whole time. I was only one blow away from knocking him out for the whole fight.
“I’m without a doubt the greatest heavyweight champion of my era. Number one. If you play with fire long enough, you’ll get burned.”
A story of five knockdowns …
Round three – Tyson Fury knocks out Deontay Wilder at the start of the fight
Round four – Things looked bad for Deontay Wilder after round three, but he came back with a stabbing right hand that sent Fury to the ground
Round four – Deontay Wilder knocks Tyson Fury down for the second time in a breathtaking comeback
Round 10 – Tyson Fury knocks Deontay Wilder down a second time with a devastating right hand
Round 11 – Tyson Fury lands a huge right hand that knocks Deontay Wilder onto the mat for a knockout
