Tyson Fury retained his WBC and Lineal heavyweight titles spectacularly before admitting that victory over Dillian Whyte could be the final victory of his career.
If Fury (32-0-1, 23 KOs) was indeed intent on hanging up his gloves, he would have ended his career in style, stopping Dillian Whyte in the sixth round of their competition at the court. Wembley Stadium, London, ahead of a record-breaking 94,000 crowd.
Pre-match statements should always be taken as a bit of salt, and that’s certainly the case here. Both men had promised a freeze, but ‘The Gypsy King’ instead delivered a deliberative performance that put him in total control.
Fury is known for his unpredictability in the ring, but it was Whyte who caused the first surprise of the night as he fought the entire opening round in Southpaw. A strategy that was clearly designed to catch a champion off guard had the desired effect, as Fury clearly wasn’t prepared for that situation. Despite the advantage gained by the element of surprise, Whyte does not look comfortable as a carrier, not achieving anything remarkable. Fury was also limited in his success in the frame as both men started cautiously.
The second round was a mirror image of the first, with Fury fighting southpaw, at least for the first minute, and Whyte reverting to his preferred mainstream stance. ‘The Bodysnatcher’ looked more comfortable in his natural stance but was unable to effectively close the gap. Fury made good use of his seven-inch reach and quicker legs, causing Whyte to miss wildly with a right-hand loop.
The third fight saw both men target the body, with Fury having greater success. As in the previous stanza, Whyte tried to get his right arm often round the top, but ‘The Gypsy King’ was able to dodge them with ease. Whyte lacks the head movement and foot speed to close the gap on a regular basis when Fury is in control. In one corner, Whyte’s coach, Xavier Miller, pleads his responsibility to be: “Hit his damn body,” instead of looking for the homerun.
The temperature broke out early on Wednesday. A head impact in the first 30 seconds resulted in a cut on Whyte’s right eye. A clatter that followed saw the challenger stab his forearm into Fury’s face. As the referee, Mark Lyson attempted to regain control of the contest by ordering both men to break, the boxers ignored his instructions, and when they finally complied, Whyte did unleash a punch when they are separated.
Lyson, who first refereed a world heavyweight title bout, then read both men about the riot action declaring, “You guys are pro boxers, act pro. .” When the action started again, Fury was furious, believing he was the victim. The round was messier than the previous rounds. Another tackle, not his time at Fury’s corner, prompts Lyson for further reminders. Taking this opportunity, Whyte hit the champion in the back of the head and Fury refused to release the hold he had on his foe.
The following round saw Fury speed up his work, again with the primary focus on the opponent’s body. While the champion didn’t dominate the frames, he seemed relaxed, fighting at his own pace. Fury’s physical size combined with his speed, coupled with his massive frame, pose a conundrum that 28 opponents have failed to solve in his 32 previous fights.
With each passing round, it became clear Whyte would not be the one to solve the mystery. Richie Woodhall in his commentary succinctly sums up the challenger’s woes: “I just think Whyte’s approach is too slow.”
In the sixth round, Whyte tried to pin Fury to the ropes and corners twice but seemed reluctant to let his hand go and, therefore, failed to capitalize. Whyte needed to find something to change the paradigm of the competition, but Fury himself did so instead. After knocking out his foe with a jab, Fury unleashes a perfect upper right butt that sends Whyte into the frame. The challenger got up but tripped over the rope when asked to step forward, forcing the referee to stop the contest.
It was a familiar fate for Whyte, as his two previous losses were both the result of top lanes.
Afterwards, Fury gleefully praised the challenger: “Listen, Dillian Whyte is a fighter and I believe Dillian will be world champion, but tonight he met someone amazing in the world. this sport. I’m one of the biggest contenders of all time. Unfortunately for Dillian Whyte, he has to face me here tonight. No shame, he’s a tough, strong gamer, he’s as strong as a bull and he’s got the heart of a lion, but you know, you don’t mess with a mediocre heavyweight, you’re messing with the best man on the planet, and you saw it tonight. “
Before the competition, Fury had said that this would be his last fight. When pressed on the matter, Fury asserted that this could be the end of his career.
“I promised my lovely wife, Paris, that after the game against three Wilders, it would be, and I mean it. I had a fight, it was a great trio and I mean it, but I was offered to fight at Wembley, at home and I believe I owe it to the fans. I owe it to everyone in the UK. Now that all is done, I must be a man of my word and I think this is it. This could be the final curtain for the “King of Gypsy” and where is the way to go out. ”
If this is the final fight of Fury’s career, it’s a fitting final chapter. At one point, Fury wasn’t the most popular boxer in the UK, but tonight he set a record for the most appearances in a boxing match in Europe and was the best boxer of his career. me. It was an opportunity that was hard to pass.
Of course, retirement is normal in boxing, but in reality hanging up the gloves is easier said than done. If Fury decides to move on, then a fight with the winner of the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua is a must. Then, without a doubt, Fury can call himself: “The best man on the planet,” at heavyweight.
