WBC champ Tyson Fury produced a stunning interception in the sixth round to beat fellow Briton Dillian Whyte and then confirmed he would retire from boxing.
Fury dominates what is a frenzy and then unleashes a wicked right slash.
Whyte, admirably, got to his feet during the countdown before staggered into the umpire as play was paused.
“This could be the final curtain for the Gypsy King,” Fury said after the battle.
He added later: “I’ve spent a lot of time on the road. I’ve been away for a long time. I’ve accomplished everything I ever wanted to accomplish.
“I’m going to retire as the second-biggest contender in history, after Rocky Marciano, to retire undefeated. I’m undefeated in this match.”
Fury – who also holds the Ring Magazine belt – is undefeated in 33 rounds, while Whyte – suffering his third loss in 31 fights – fails to win his first world championship.
If Fury decides to hang up his gloves, the 33-year-old will miss his chance to fight for the undisputed crown – a fight that is likely to be held later this year – and the chance to cement his position. he’s the greatest England ever heavyweight.
“I promised my wife that it would happen after [Deontay] Wilder fights,” he added. But I was offered to fight at Wembley and I owe it to the fans. What a way to go out. “
Fury’s wife Paris told BT Sport: “I want him out right now. He has nothing left to prove. If he has anything left to do, I’ll say ‘Yeah Tyson, you do. okay.’ But he has nothing to prove.
“For Tyson to continue boxing, it seems like only for one reason and I know in my heart, I think the only reason Tyson will be back is for the unification fight.”
Fury’s greatest punch crowd record
With 94,000 fans in attendance – a post-war British record – there was an atmosphere like no other for a match that has been dubbed by some as the great all-English pre-emptive battle. most in history.
Boos echoed around the iconic stadium as the energetic Whyte let out his signature howl before taking to the ring.
Fury’s walk in the ring was lavish. It starts off to the tune of Don McLean’s ‘American Pie’, quickly turns into ‘Juicy’ by Notorious BIG, and ends with Kings of Leon’s ‘Sex on Fire’. Fury then sits on the throne as the fireworks explode into the sky, before making his way to the ring.
He was taller than Whyte when the two men touched the gloves. Fury teased before the match that he could switch to Southpaw and neutralize Whyte’s dangerous left hook but surprisingly, Whyte reappeared as a Southpaw in a mixed opening round.
Then it was Fury’s turn to move from the mainstream in the second round as the mind battle continued, with the champion taking the lead in the opening two innings.
He landed with a solid two-punch combination in the third round, sending Whyte into his opponent. But the challenger couldn’t get close to Fury, who used his height and gain to keep Whyte in the match.
The competition really heated up in the thrilling 4th half. Whyte connects when asked to break, which clearly agitates Fury.
The boxers were twice criticized by Mark Lyson, because the referee tried to overpower two men with a combined weight of 37 stone.
Whyte’s telegram-marked overhand rights do not reach the elusive Fury, who is connecting with ease.
After that, arguably Fury’s greatest punch in terms of what is proving to be an illustrious career. He started it off with a left jab and as Whyte stepped forward, Fury whipped out a ferocious butt.
Whyte fell back onto the canvas. He conveyed the warrior spirit he spoke of before the fight but when he stood, it was clear that he was in no position to continue.
Fury insists he will hang up his gloves
Fury, as expected, grabbed the microphone and treated fans to his own performance of ‘American Pie’ in the ring after his win.
It was a song to end the perfect homecoming party for the Morecambe-born boxer, who has competed in UK boxing for the first time since 2018.
He said before the fight that this would be his last. It was thanks to boxing at Wembley that he reached his peak.
Many in the sports world have commented on those remarks with some skepticism – something he has said several times before – but it seems Fury has kept his word.
His compatriot Anthony Joshua will most likely face a rematch with Ukraine’s WBA, IBF and WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk this summer.
The allure of fighting winners for all belts – and the lucrative nature it brings, especially if Joshua wins – can only tempt Fury to put his retirement plans on hold.
Career ups and downs
If this is the end, however, it’s a remarkable career from a 6ft 9in and 19 stone man capable of gliding across the ring like an elegant ballerina. His style, for his size, is unmatched.
He is the boxer who went from narrowly beating John McDermott on points for the British title at Brentwood to becoming a unified world champion, shocking longtime defending champion Wladimir Klitschko in Germany in 2015.
A boxer has returned after more than two and a half years out of the sport and reclaimed a heavyweight title, destroying America and sharing arguably one of the greatest trios in the sport with Deontay Wilder .
He entertained reporters by dressing up as Batman or gagging himself at press conferences. Fury even had time to enter the world of scripted pro wrestling.
During his second career promotion, Fury openly spoke to – and became an advocate for – mental health struggles.
But his career has also been controversial many times. Not long after his first world title, Fury made homophobic and sexist remarks in an interview.
He had previously tested positive for a banned steroid – which he blamed on eating undercooked wild boar – and later admitted to using drinks and drugs to help cope. with depression.
More recently, his fight with Whyte has been somewhat overshadowed by Fury’s connection to Daniel Kinahan, who earlier this month was among seven people financially sanctioned by the United States around the world.
Fury had previously been advised by Kinahan but this week insisted he had absolutely nothing to do with the Irishman.
It was a career full of ups and downs. But despite his retirement, meeting the Gypsy King again in the ring – with the potential to cement his status as the greatest heavyweight in history – is entirely possible.
What’s next for Whyte?
In addition to a few months after his defeat to Alexander Povetkin in 2020, a match he avenged later, 34-year-old Whyte has been a required challenger for the WBC belt since 2017.
“Dillian is a fighter and I believe he will be world champion,” Fury said as he and Whyte hugged after the battle.
“One of the greatest and, unfortunately, he had to fight me tonight. You’re not messing with a mediocre heavyweight, you’re messing with the best man on the planet. “
Since his first career defeat to rival Joshua in 2015, Whyte has proven his world-class bravery with victories over the likes of Joseph Parker and Povetkin. He’s still a big draw in the sport.
“There’s not much in it – it’s a close fight and I don’t feel like I’m left out in it,” Whyte told Radio 5 Live.
“My game plan was to corner him and start moving forward. I tried to attack but one slip and I got hit.
“He is a very clumsy person – I expected that.
“It’s always been an awkward match, but I tried to set and be patient and land as early as I could and from the third round onwards started shooting.
“It was a good learning experience.”
A rematch with rival Joshua, should he lose to Usyk, is easy to sell and one that can capture the imaginations of boxing fans.
Time will tell what the future holds for Whyte, but tonight belongs to Fury – one of the all-time British heavyweights and future celebrity.
