Tyson Fury pulled off the greatest victory for any English boxer abroad as he stopped America’s KO king Deontay Wilder with an utterly dominant, devastating performance.
The Gypsy King arrived in the ring carried on a golden throne and ascended into the pantheon of all-time heavyweight greats on the wings of genius.
Fury has now completed a full set of the world heavyweight belts by adding Wilder’s WBC title and the Ring Magazine accolade to the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO prizes he held previously after defeating Wladimir Klitschko.
Tyson Fury has reclaimed the heavyweight championship of the world after defeating Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas
The Gypsy King put in a performance for the ages, knocking Wilder down twice before his corner threw in the towel
Fury walks away after knocking out Wilder as he ascended into the pantheon of all-time heavyweight greats
The Bronze Bomber was made to look a novice by Fury who took the fight to heavyweight boxing’s knock out King
The 30-year-old has his arm raised to the Las Vegas sky by referee Kenny Bayless after a truly remarkable performance
The British heavyweight celebrates with his entourage following his famous victory over his American rival
Fury commiserates a bloodied Wilder after his corner called an early stop to the highly-anticipated rematch in Sin City
But the manner of it enhanced the accomplishment.
This was simply phenomenal. Fury not only battered around the most feared puncher in the ring but his aggressive tactics took away Wilder’s space in which to throw his Bronze Bombs.
Fury floored twice the man who had done the same to him twice in their epic draw 14 months.
This was the rematch but, astonishingly, it was hardly a match at all.
Fury praised Wilder’s courage for getting up just as he had before fulfilling his customary promise to sing in the ring if he won. The choice of song was a little less complimentary: American Pie.
‘I told you I would do this,’ Fury roared. Yes, he did. I am one of many who wish I had listened.
Wilder’s corner threw in the towel in the seventh just as referee Kenny Bayless intervened to save him from further punishment. He said: ‘I wish my team had let me go out on my shield.’
After this it will require a lot of thought before he decides to implement the contracted loser’s right to demand a third fight.
Fury damaged Wilder with heavy shots as the 35-year-old had his lip busted open while he was bleeding from the ear
As promised, Fury came out the aggressor in the first round as he looked to set a frenetic pace on the 35-year-old American
Wilder was unable to evade Fury’s crisp one-two combinations and despite his heavy frame, the Brit dodged the American’s right hands
The Gypsy King made the breakthrough in the third round, landing a huge knockdown to stun the MGM Grand in Las Vegas
Wilder somehow survived a second knockdown and was battered from pillar to post, with his lip busted open and a bloody ear
Fury floored his opponent a second time in the fifth round after landing a thumping body shot on the Alabama-born champion
Fury parades his brand new WBC belt and the ringside magazine belt to the Las Vegas audience after his latest triumph
A late surge of money at the Vegas sports books cemented Wilder as the betting favourite, a position Fury had held since the fight was announced. But Fury relished the role of the underdog.
Both men arrived early with the arena barely a third full for the preliminary bouts. So as the big screens picked them up walking to their dressing rooms there were muted cheers from the early birds for Fury, in one of his suits of many colours, and just isolated cries of ‘Bomber’ for Wilder in dark kit.
Wilder’s party seemed to get lost en route from his penthouse suite in the MGM and they took him and his fiancée on a ten to 15 minute march from the bottom of the elevator, through the thronged hotel lobby and around the inner corridors of the Grand Garden to reach his billet.
Perhaps it was to continue keeping them at distance following the Nevada Commission’s prohibition on them staging a stare-down at the weigh-in following a shoving and slagging match at the final media conference.
Both men made stunning ring walks in front of a packed-out MGM Grand, with Wilder donning a shiny suit of armour
Fury opted not to walk to the ring, but instead be lifted on a throne while wearing a royal robe and a crown atop his head
It was quite the entrance from the 31-year-old before he produced the spectacular in the ring in Las Vegas on the weekend
However, they looked pictures of tranquillity as they made their separate ways to work. Fury was then shown lounging and smiling at the cameras.
A majority of the 16,000 crowd were expected to be vociferous Fury followers but the man himself said beforehand: ‘I love my supporters but when it comes to the fight it makes no difference if there’s 50,000 of my fans. Once the bell goes it’s just a boxing match between two men.’
So did the roars for the Gypsy King – in his crown and robes and carried to the ring on a golden throne – from the Brits and travellers. They also drowned out the American welcome for Wilder, in one of his trademark masks and body armour to a powerful rap about black power.
Fury, who has famously battled mental health issues, showed lovely humour by his choice of song for his entrance: ‘Crazy.’
Prior to that there was huge acclaim for ring appearances by Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield and loudest of all Mike Tyson.
Wilder was unable to stick around to fulfill his media duties after the fight as he received treatment in his dressing room after suffering a burst eardrum during the fight.
The Bronze Bomber now has 30 days to activate his rematch clause for a trilogy fight. It would mean a Battle for Britain heavyweight unification fight with Anthony Joshua would take a back seat.
While talk of rematches and potential opponents dominated proceedings in the press, Fury took time out to celebrate a hugely successful night by partying with friends and family at Las Vegas super club Hakkasan.
