FanPost

Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder

Saturday December 1st, 2018 will certainly be a day to remember for boxing history. Heavyweight Lineal Champion Tyson Fury took on WBC belt-holder Deontay Wilder. The two titans clashed at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The potential fight of the year went the distance, which was an outcome that was not expected by most. Retired fighters, active fighters, and fans alike expected the fight to go no more than 8 rounds.


Deontay Wilder is known for his formidable power. He has knocked out every man he has every faced. The Bronze Bomber won his WBC belt back in 2015 when he faced Bermane Stiverne. Their first fight went the full twelve rounds. However, the second fight ended in a humiliating first round knockout of Stiverne. Wilder faced undefeated Luis Ortiz back in March and showed great heart. This fight elevated his status and showed the world that he was ready to face opponents of a higher level. Tyson Fury was surely the man to deliver. With Wilder’s impressive knockout rate Fury was thought to be certain addition to the collection of knockouts. However, Tyson Fury knows a thing or two about overcoming adversity.


Tyson Fury has the greatest comeback story in boxing history, depending on your opinion. The Gypsy King ended Wladimir Klitschko’s reign over the heavyweight division back in 2015 and did so with ease. His troubles began after his incredible performance. After this, he put his crosshairs on Deontay Wilder in hopes to unify the Heavyweight division. Before this could happen, he was stripped of his boxing license for drug usage. He spent three years out of the ring and in this time, ballooned up to 400 pounds. He battled manic depression, suicidal thoughts, as well as alcohol and drug abuse. Then, he decided to make a comeback. Along the way, Fury lost about 150 pounds, overcame his depression, hired Ben Davison as a trainer, and racked up two comeback fights. He fought Sefer Seferi for his comeback fight. This matchup looked embarrassing for both sides. Then, he fought Francesco Pianeta.


Despite his promoter’s advice to gain at least 5 comeback fights, Fury wanted Wilder. The fight was made very easily according to Fury. In the time leading up to the mega-fight, The Gypsy King made appearances on shows such as the Joe Rogan Podcast to tell his incredible story.


The numerous appearances by both fighters helped to accomplish the goal of reviving the heavyweight division. The two fighters were able to make this showdown the biggest since 2002.


December 1st could not come soon enough. It was sure to be an entertaining fight. The boxer vs. the puncher. Each fighter had an equal chance of emerging victorious. Would Fury’s time out of the ring make him lose? Would Wilder’s lack of experience and boxing skill be his biggest weakness? The event started with Fury walking to the ring wearing green and gold; the colors of the WBC belt. Wilder followed wearing a feather-covered robe which made him look like more of a bird than a badass. The moment everyone had been waiting for was here.


Throughout the first several rounds, Fury exercised the sweet science of hit and don’t get hit. He was able to effectively double up on his jab, and land straight right hands to Wilder’s head. A paradox of Tyson Fury is his ability to move swiftly. Towering at six foot nine inches tall weighing 260 pounds is not exactly a description you would associate with someone with his movement. Because of this movement, Wilder was only able to land an average of 16.5% of his total punches according to CompuBox stats. Fury was able to land 25.7% of his total punches. It should be mentioned that the total punches landed does not have such a notable gap. Throughout the fight, Fury was able to land 84 punches and the Bronze Bomber was able to land 71 punches. If the entire fight followed the same format of Fury landing more punches and avoiding incoming punches, the decision may have been different.


Wilder was able to knock Fury down in the ninth round of the fight. As Fury was slipping punches against the ropes, Wilder landed a right hand just behind the ear of Fury which sent him down to the canvas. At first glance, one might mistake the knock down for a slip. Nonetheless, it was certainly a knockdown. Fury got up, seemingly unharmed, and continued his display. This certainly helped Wilder’s case by closing the gap.


Wilder certainly smelled blood going into the tenth round. He resorted to his reckless punching style, but against an opponent as elusive as the Gypsy King his attempts went to waste. Wilder landed none of the 13 power punches he threw, and only landed a single jab.


The championship rounds contain a moment that will certainly be remembered for years to come. In round 12, a massive right hand finally found its place on Fury, Fury started to drop to the canvas, but the punishment was not over. A perfectly placed left hook landed on the Gypsy King’s jaw. He hit the canvas at 2:21 on the official clock, then managed to get up by 2:11. As the Bronze Bomber himself said, "god knows how he got up." Referee Jack Reiss made sure Fury was able to continue. Then, the fight resumed. Wilder smelled blood once again and landed a looping left hook on Fury. Fury leaned back against the ropes and survived the barrage of punches. Where one fighter would get on his bike and avoid the man who just put him on the canvas, Tyson Fury fought back.


Fans of Wilder are stating that the ten count was long. However, as mentioned earlier, Fury went down at 2:21 and was up at 2:11 on the official clock. True boxing fans understand that the ten count is not necessarily a ten second count. An example of this can be seen in the Tyson vs. Douglas fight. In this fight the count was long over ten seconds, but the fight was not ended. The Referee starts count to ten once the opponent is in a neutral corner. That being said, Deontay Wilder was not robbed of a 12th round knockout.


The Gypsy King proved to the world that he should be the new WBC champion. He won at least nine rounds of twelve and exposed Deontay Wilder’s lack of boxing skill. The hardest hitter in boxing nailed the Gypsy King with 2 power shots that have knocked out every opponent before him. As he lay on the canvas one can almost hear Mickey from Rocky say, "Get up you son of a bitch cause Mickey loves you." Numerous internet memes have surfaced comparing Fury to the Undertaker, which is a comparison that is quite fitting. Needless to say, Tyson Fury showed heart that boxing has not seen in a very long time. Heart that boxing needed. After the fight, Fury remained in good spirits. He had nothing but kind and truthful words to say about his opponent. Later, he even managed to get the press to sing American Pie in the post-fight press conference. He held true to his promise of donating his entire $10 million purse to charity. He has proved himself to be a gentleman of the sport, a man of his word, an admirable individual, and one tough son of a bitch. Tyson Fury is truly an inspiration. The love of a nation was won on December 1st, 2018.


As for the Bronze Bomber. . . he showed that his power is real and that he is a force to be reckoned with. But, following the fight, he has made numerous excuses to try and warrant the obvious loss. It is very hard to respect someone who cannot man up and accept that he lost.


The fight ended with what was sure to be a new WBC Heavyweight Champion. However, to the surprise of most people, a split decision draw was announced. Judge Robert Tapper scored it 114-112 (the scorecard was added up incorrectly at 114-110) for Tyson Fury. Judge Phil Edwards scored it 113-113. Finally, Judge Alejandro Rochin scored it 115-111 for Wilder. A true boxing fan who understands the sweet science would most likely say that Fury out-boxed and out-classed Deontay Wilder all night. It has been known for some time now that there need to be changes made to the scoring of a boxing match.


Alejandro Rochin gave one of the worst scorecards since Adalaide Byrd’s controversial 118-110 scorecard for the GGG vs. Canelo fight. Frankly, Deontay Wilder should be counting his lucky stars for the gift of a draw.


Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder. The boxer vs. the puncher. This fight was certainly a fight that the Heavyweight division needed. The only thing that could have helped the sport even more is a fair decision. With any luck, these problems will be solved and bring a sense of fairness back to the sport of boxing. The rematch should take place in Europe to ensure that the scoring is one step closer to being fair. It goes without saying that when these two meet again, boxing fans will be in for another treat.


CompuBox Stats: https://www.boxingscene.com/deontay-wilder-vs-tyson-fury-compubox-punch-stats--134262


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