Tyson Fury has beaten Deontay Wilder in a thrilling heavyweight title fight in Las Vegas, Nevada, retaining his WBC heavyweight title.
Key points:
- Tyson Fury remains undefeated as a professional with a career record of 31-0-1
- Fury was knocked down twice in the fourth round
- Deontay Wilder, who refused to acknowledge Fury after the fight, suffered his second career defeat
Fury knocked Wilder out at 1:10 into the 11th round, with a brutal left-right combination after an epic brawl in which both men were dropped, twice, before the knockout.
"It will go down in history as a great fight," Fury said in the ring.
"I'm the WBC champion, the Ring Champion and the lineal champion.
"Don't ever doubt me. When the chips are down, I will deliver."
There can be little doubt that Fury has cemented his status as one of the all-time greats after one of the best fights Las Vegas has ever witnessed, a trilogy fight worthy of recognition as one of the best ever staged.
Wilder had looked incredibly focused all week, barely responding to Fury's energetic taunting at the weigh-in and press conference, remaining calm where, pre-fight, he said: "When I'm calm, I can make the best decisions possible."
Fury though, described the fight as "a pantomime show, like Broadway in Las Vegas", which was born out in the typically theatrical ring-walks that preceded the fight.
Wilder, having delayed his entry, came to the ring wearing a typically ornate costume, while Fury entered dancing and singing along to AC/DC's You shook me all night long, while dressed as a Roman Centurion.
The pair repeatedly jawed at each other while receiving their instructions, a small taste of the bad blood that has fuelled this rivalry, right up the moment the bell rang, and they engaged in a rematch 20 months in the offing.
Wilder — who weighed in at a career-high 107.9 kilograms — came out swinging in the first round, forcing Fury to backtrack and stay away from the vicious right hand that was responsible for his 41 career knockouts.
However Fury — who also came in at a career-high of 125.6kg — landed the first telling blow, knocking the American down with a massive right hand in the third.
Wilder looked out on his feet, but responded in the best possible way, sending Fury to the canvass twice in a brutal, seesawing fourth.
The former champion — who made 10 successful defences in his career as heavyweight champion but had been criticised for being a limited boxer and one-punch specialist — looked sharp, working behind a rangy jab to the body and tested Fury throughout.
Fury was forced to hang on for dear life as Wilder frantically looked for the knockout blow, but adjusted and went back to basics, advancing behind his own stiff jab, doubling up with a powerful right.
"He gave me a real run for my money," Fury said.
"I'm the best on the world and he's the second best."
That helped Fury regain his ascendancy, but he remained wary of Wilder's irrefutable power, despite landing with repeat, concussive blows to the head off a stiff jab and devastating right hook.
The Briton's superior ring-craft and near 20kg weight advantage became increasingly evident as the fight went on, with every clinch sapping Wilder's energy and every one-two combo taking their toll.
It was evident the American was wobbled a number of times before finally going down again in the 10th round, courtesy of another clubbing right.
Improbably, Wilder got up from that shot, but was unable to do so in the 11th, Fury sending Wilder down with another brilliant combination and the referee calling a halt before Wilder had even hit the ground.
Wilder, who listed an extraordinary array of surreal and bizarre excuses after his last defeat, exited the ring quickly, refusing to acknowledge Fury.
"He's got no love for me, Deontay Wilder. You know why? Because I beat him three times," Fury said.
"I'm a sportsman, I went over to him to show some love and respect, but he didn't wanna give it back. That's his problem.
"I will pray for him, so God will soften his heart."
Fury would not immediately be drawn on what his next move would be, but with the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO belts tied up with an Oleksandr Usyk-Anthony Joshua rematch, he may be forced into a mandatory defence of his WBC belt against fellow Brit, Dillian Whyte, should he get past Swede Otto Wallin later this month.
Look back on how all the action unfolded in Las Vegas in our live blog.
Live updates
All hail the Gypsy King
OK, I think it's about time we wrapped things up on the live side of the blog today.
All I can say is, wow. I'm still buzzing a little bit from that fight and all that happened.
It was a contest that ebbed and flowed from one side to the next on a whim, two fantastic warriors going toe to toe for 11 brilliant rounds of heavyweight boxing.
I thought their second fight was a good one, but it's been blown out of the water by this stunning encounter.
Where now for Fury? I think Dylian Whyte deserves a chance, having been mandatory for this belt for over 1,200 days now (boxing politics is mad) but he'll need to get past Otto Wallin first.
If not, then surely the winner of the Anthony Joshua-Oleksadr Usyk fight will be the way to go - and won't that be something.
Anyway, thanks for watching/following along with me, it was a real pleasure to be able to bring it to you all.
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Fury v Joshua AND Usyk at the same time might be close, but he will smash whichever one of them he faces next
-Bryan
Yeah, I think I'm with you.
He's just too good. His boxing IQ is through the roof.
Plus, he weighs 125kgs and is 206cm tall.
Incredible skill set for such an enormous man.
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Thank you for a great blow-by-blow when most of the time we can’t get any information about a big fight. Great job thank you
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Where does Fury stand in the all-time list?
Fury is the best heavyweight since Ali , and maybe better .
-martin pinnock
He's got to be up there, hasn't he Martin?
He's certainly got the most engaging and arresting persona in the boxing world right now.
He's certainly got the movement, both body and foot movement, to put him down as one of the all time greats.
And today he's shown that he's absolutely got the chin to be classed as the greatest.
Hard to judge different eras, of course, but every superstar needs their foil, and in Deontay Wilder, he's found his.
Wilder walked out the ring without acknowledging Fury
The loser won’t acknowledge Fury. Complete lack of class. Still, he’s probably gone off to find another excuse. Maybe his shorts were too heavy ?
-kimbo
Yeah, it's poor form for me too, kimbo.
I guess time will tell about whether or not he will come out with any excuses, but really he shouldn't have to - that was one of the all time great fights and it very much takes two to tango - he played his part in one of the all time great fights.
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'Don't ever doubt me': Fury
There is little doubt that it will go down as one of the all time great fights, especially in the heavyweight division.
But Fury says it has to be one of the all time great contests.
"It will go down in history as a great fight," he says.
"I'm the WBC champion, the Ring Champion and the lineal champion," he says.
"Don't ever doubt me, when the chips are down, I will deliver."
And now, as is customary, he's singing. A version of walking in Memphis with Vegas referenced instead.
This guy.
You speak about his boxing ability, and we've seen that illustrated time and time again, but he really is sport's greatest showman.
He follows up that piece with a rendition of "Lancashire la la la", which I feel might have been lost on this American crowd...
'I'm made of pig iron and steel': Tyson Fury
The champ is talking in the centre of the ring.
"I'll make it as clean as possible for you," he says before the interview starts.
"Like the great John Wayne said, I'm made of pig iron and steel, baby," he says.
He then thanks Jesus.
"I was hurt, Wilder is a tough man, a strong puncher. My Lord and Saviour rose me to my feet to give me glory," he says.
"It was a great fight tonight, worthy of any trilogy in world title history."
He's not wrong.
Deontay Wilder has left the ring, without acknowledging Fury.
"He gave me a real run for my money," Fury says. "I'm the best on the world and he's the second best."
He says he's disappointed that Wilder would not acknowledge him.
""He's got no love for me Deontay Wilder. You know why? Because I beat him three times. I'm a sportsman, I went over to him to show some love and respect, but he didn't wanna give it back. That's his problem.
"I will pray for him, so God will soften his heart."
Wow, that's a biblical burn.
And still...
Tyson Fury remains the undefeated WBC and lineal heavyweight champion of the world and surely now one of the all time great fighters.