Tyson Fury knocks out Deontay Wilder in stunning world heavyweight boxing title fight
Tyson Fury has beaten Deontay Wilder in a thrilling heavyweight title fight in Las Vegas, Nevada, retaining his WBC heavyweight title.
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 — 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.
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.
Wilder, improbably, 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.
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.
