EPIC: Tyson Fury Beats Deontay Wilder By TKO In Action-packed Boxing Match In Which Both Survived Knockdowns

By Keneci Channel

There were five combined knockdowns during the 11-round WBC heavyweight fight Saturday, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with 6-foot-7 Wilder going down three times and the 6-foot-9 'Gypsy King' going down twice, both in Round 4.

The 'Bronze Bomber' opened the first round with a strong jab and momentum, but appeared to tire when he didn’t hurt Fury early.

In the final minute of the third, Fury stunned Wilder with a shot and then escaped a clinch to land a two-punch combination that put Wilder down to his knees. Fury battered Wilder again with the crowd on its feet, but Wilder made it to the bell.

Late in the fourth round, the 35-year-old landed a powerful right hand squarely to the top of Fury’s head. Fury staggered and fell to the canvas, only to get up and then be put down again moments later amid the crowd’s stunned roars. Fury survived the round.

Both fighters landed damaging shots without a knockdown in the fifth and sixth rounds. Fury hurt Wilder in the seventh with a series of punches that sent Wilder sprawling back against the ropes.

Fury hurt a visibly exhausted Wilder again in the eighth with two huge shots, and the ringside doctor examined Wilder before allowing the fight to continue into the ninth.

Another damaging right hand from Fury swept Wilder’s legs out from under him in the 10th round, but Wilder survived, even hurting Fury late in the round.

Fury landed the fight-ending shot in the 11th round, a devastating right hand from close range that sent Wilder reaching for the ropes on his way down -- he landed facedown with his eyes glassy. Referee Russell Mora didn't bother to count. The fight was finally over at 1:10 of Round 11 with the 33-year-old Englishman declared winner by TKO, and retaining his WBC heavyweight title.

Fury closed his post-fight interview serenading the Las Vegas boxing fans with a version of Marc Cohn’s hit "Walking in Memphis." The Englishman changed the lyrics to say he was "walking in Vegas."

"I have proved time and again that I can never be written off," said Fury in an interview after the fight. "I didn't have my best performance but I pulled it out of the bag when it needed to be done. I am the greatest heavyweight champion of my era, without a doubt. Number one. If you play with fire long enough you will get burned."

"It was a great fight tonight," Fury also said in another interview. "It was worthy of any trilogy in the history of the sport. Wilder's a tough fighter. ... I always said I'm the best in the world and he's second-best."

Fury said he attempted to speak with Wilder in the ring afterward, but said Wilder declined. "I'm a sportsman," 'The Gypsy King' said. "I went over to show some love and respect and he didn't want to show it back. That's his problem ... So I pray for him."

Asked what he said to Wilder in the ring, Fury told BT Sport: “I said ‘well done, mate’ and he said ‘I don’t want to show any sportsmanship or respect.' I said ‘No problem.’ I was very surprised. Sore loser. Idiot.”

Reacting to the fight Wilder said: “I did my best, but it was not good enough tonight. I am not sure what happened. I know that in training he did certain things, and I also knew that he did not come in at 277 pounds to be a ballet dancer. He came to lean on me, try to rough me up and he succeeded.”

Boxing critics however agree that while Wilder lost, the two fighters displayed remarkable pugilistic tenacity worthy of an epic trilogy.

The Saturday match concludes one of the most memorable rivalries in recent boxing history -- a trilogy featuring 30 total rounds between Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs) and Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs). They battled to a controversial draw in their December 2018 bout before Fury eviscerated Wilder in the February 2020 bout.