By Peter Silkov
Tonight Tyson Fury has done the impossible, he has slayed the seemingly invincible Dr Steelhammer, Wladimir Klitschko, to win the World heavyweight title in what is one of the biggest upsets seen in the division’s history. Now that he is champion, we will see many people coming out of the woodwork saying that they always thought that Fury had the makings of a world champion in him and that he always had a good chance against Klitschko. The truth, however, is that few really gave Fury much hope of ending Klitschko’s 11 year unbeaten streak. What is perhaps even more of a surprise is the manner of Tyson’s victory. Most people who gave Tyson a chance of victory thought that such a chance would come through Tyson landing a knockout, as Klitschko’s biggest flaw has always seemed to be his durability. Instead, Fury did what many of supporters’ felt he would never be able to do; he out-boxed Dr Steelhammer. If that wasn’t enough, Fury out-boxed Klitschko with ease, with a mixture of speed and confidence, which lived up to his boast earlier in the week that this would be one of the easiest victories of his career.
Fury bamboozled Klitschko from the opening round. Boxing on the retreat, and waiting for Klitschko to come forward. He boxed the perfect fight for a counter puncher and by doing so, refused to fight the way that Klitschko wanted him to fight. Unable to counter himself, Klitschko was reluctant to attack either, which resulted in much of the contest being a chess match, with both fighters feinting and spearing at each other with their jabs, but landing few punches of power or consequence. The solid shots that did land were coming form the challenger. With speed that belies his stature, Tyson was beating Klitschko to the jab, and befuddling him by switching from orthodox to southpaw and back again. Indeed, at times Fury’s confidence bordered on pure recklessness as he stood within range with his hands at his sides, and even put his hands behind his back on several occasions. As the rounds passed, it became clear that Fury was in control of the fight, by the middle rounds both men were throwing punches with more intent, and Wladimir, after holding his right hand back for much of the early rounds, finally began to unleash it. When he did this, Tyson came back with big punches of his own. The pattern of the fight was of Tyson using the ring and peppering Wladimir with the jab. What punches were being thrown by the defending champion were often smothered or blocked by Fury.
Tyson’s advantage in the fight was written on Wladimir’s face by the 6th round, in the cut and swollen cheek below his left eye, and the visible glimmer of frustration and even panic that showed on his face.
This was Wladimir Klitschko’s 28th world heavyweight title fight, but he had never experienced anything like this before, in any of his previous fights.
At times Fury seemed to be taunting the champion, and as the fight wore on into the later rounds, Klitschko began to look old, as he struggled to keep up with a faster, and even stronger man than himself.
The 9th round was a pivotal one, with Klitschko landing his best punches of the fight, yet Fury just stood his ground, and came back with heavy punches of his own. Suddenly it was clear that Fury could take the best punches of Wladimir, and although it was one of the few rounds that Klitschko would clearly win, it seemed to only embolden Tyson Fury.
This was Wladimir Klitschko’s 28th world heavyweight title fight, but he had never experienced anything like this before, in any of his previous fights.
At times Fury seemed to be taunting the champion, and as the fight wore on into the later rounds, Klitschko began to look old, as he struggled to keep up with a faster, and even stronger man than himself.
The 9th round was a pivotal one, with Klitschko landing his best punches of the fight, yet Fury just stood his ground, and came back with heavy punches of his own. Suddenly it was clear that Fury could take the best punches of Wladimir, and although it was one of the few rounds that Klitschko would clearly win, it seemed to only embolden Tyson Fury.
The challenger kept to a brilliant fight plan, to rely upon his jab, while utilizing his superior height, reach, and speed. It was a magnificent performance of concentration and dedication by a man who in the past has been known for his often-erratic performances in the ring, but not this night.
In the 11th round, Tyson unleashed some of his heaviest punches, and seemed to visibly shake Klitschko, yet referee Tony Weeks chose this moment to break up the fighters and issue an outrageous point deduction for Tyson hitting Wladimir behind the head. Despite Wlad holding, ducking his head down, and doing some rabbit punching of his own throughout the fight, Mr Weeks did not warn Wlad as much as he did Tyson. Obviously, Mr Weeks had his reasons for doing what he did, but it seemed unfair in the extreme and even the pro-Klitschko German crowd booed his action.
Klitschko won the last round as he tried a desperate final rally, perhaps realizing that his title was slipping away. Wladimir landed some solid punches as the final minutes of the contest ebbed away, but Fury once more stood his ground and fought back, although now visibly tiring. The contest ended with some of the best exchanges of the fight, and while both men raised their arms in victory at the final bell, there seemed to be a hollowness in the eyes of Klitschko. Even before the verdict had been announced he knew he had been beaten.
In the 11th round, Tyson unleashed some of his heaviest punches, and seemed to visibly shake Klitschko, yet referee Tony Weeks chose this moment to break up the fighters and issue an outrageous point deduction for Tyson hitting Wladimir behind the head. Despite Wlad holding, ducking his head down, and doing some rabbit punching of his own throughout the fight, Mr Weeks did not warn Wlad as much as he did Tyson. Obviously, Mr Weeks had his reasons for doing what he did, but it seemed unfair in the extreme and even the pro-Klitschko German crowd booed his action.
Klitschko won the last round as he tried a desperate final rally, perhaps realizing that his title was slipping away. Wladimir landed some solid punches as the final minutes of the contest ebbed away, but Fury once more stood his ground and fought back, although now visibly tiring. The contest ended with some of the best exchanges of the fight, and while both men raised their arms in victory at the final bell, there seemed to be a hollowness in the eyes of Klitschko. Even before the verdict had been announced he knew he had been beaten.
The verdict itself was a drama all its own. Winning a fight and actually getting awarded the decision are often two separate things when a fighter is fighting away in Germany. But tonight, after all the controversies over the type of gloves to be used, the overly padded ring, and then the champion having his hands wrapped unsupervised, the judges delivered a just and uncontroversial verdict. Fury won by scores of 115-112, 115-112 and 116-111. The Boxing Glove scored the fight 116-111.
The announcement of victory gave rise to some of the most jubilant and emotional scenes witnessed in a boxing ring for sometime. In his post fight interview an emotional Tyson Fury showed just why he has the personality to liven up the heavyweight division now that he is World heavyweight champion.
It wasn’t the greatest of heavyweight fights, but Klitschko’s style has never lended itself to excitement. Yet, it was an enthralling tactical fight, a chess match with gloves, and in the end Dr Steelhammer, who has made a career out of clinically out-thinking and dissecting his opposition, especially over the past 11 and a half years, found himself out-thought, and out- maneuvered.
The announcement of victory gave rise to some of the most jubilant and emotional scenes witnessed in a boxing ring for sometime. In his post fight interview an emotional Tyson Fury showed just why he has the personality to liven up the heavyweight division now that he is World heavyweight champion.
It wasn’t the greatest of heavyweight fights, but Klitschko’s style has never lended itself to excitement. Yet, it was an enthralling tactical fight, a chess match with gloves, and in the end Dr Steelhammer, who has made a career out of clinically out-thinking and dissecting his opposition, especially over the past 11 and a half years, found himself out-thought, and out- maneuvered.
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| Photo: BBC Sports |
Tyson Fury has been telling us for a long time that he would beat Wladimir Klitschko, that he would be too fast, and too clever. Tonight he lived up to his word, and even the German crowd seemed to be won over by his performance.
Minutes after being declared the new Heavyweight champion of the world Tyson Fury sang a song to his wife from the middle of the crowded ring, as a bruised and beaten Wladimir Klitschko watched with a bemused expression upon his face.
This was Wladimir’s record-breaking 28th world heavyweight title fight, and it is unlikely that he will have fond memories of it.
Tonight Tyson lived up to the prophecy of his Father, John Fury, who predicted that his son would one day be the Heavyweight champion of the world. Tyson weighed only 1 pound after being born two months premature, and was still fighting for his life. Tyson also fulfilled the sage-like prediction of Emanuel Steward, the man who resurrected Wladimir's boxing career, who predicted when Tyson was barely into his 20s, that he was a future superstar of boxing, and the next dominant World heavyweight champion. The heavyweight division suddenly became very interesting again.
Minutes after being declared the new Heavyweight champion of the world Tyson Fury sang a song to his wife from the middle of the crowded ring, as a bruised and beaten Wladimir Klitschko watched with a bemused expression upon his face.
This was Wladimir’s record-breaking 28th world heavyweight title fight, and it is unlikely that he will have fond memories of it.
Tonight Tyson lived up to the prophecy of his Father, John Fury, who predicted that his son would one day be the Heavyweight champion of the world. Tyson weighed only 1 pound after being born two months premature, and was still fighting for his life. Tyson also fulfilled the sage-like prediction of Emanuel Steward, the man who resurrected Wladimir's boxing career, who predicted when Tyson was barely into his 20s, that he was a future superstar of boxing, and the next dominant World heavyweight champion. The heavyweight division suddenly became very interesting again.
Watch post fight interview and press conference:
