New WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury declared that the “king has returned to the top of the throne” after he beat Deontay Wilder in the Las Vegas rematch on Sunday morning.
Unbeaten Fury, the “Gypsy King”, dominated the fight at the MGM Grand, sending Wilder to the canvas twice before the bout was stopped in the seventh round.
The damage was done early on when Fury landed a shot which damaged Wilder’s left ear. With his balance affected the previously unbeaten Wilder held on but the American’s corner threw in the towel to end the contest.
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The decision by Wilder’s corner completes a stunning career comeback by 31-year-old Fury.
Having previously held the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO and The Ring magazine titles, depression and mental health issues saw Fury suffer some very dark days away from the ring.
Many pundits and fans believed Fury should have won the first fight against Wilder in 2018, which was declared a split-decision draw, but his performance in the Las Vegas rematch sees him back on top of the heavyweight division.
America takes it on the chin as ‘those darn Brits’ dominate boxing’s heavyweight division
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Reactions from the fighters
Tyson Fury (30 wins, 21 KOs, 1 draw, zero losses)
“I told everybody with a pair of ears that the Gypsy King would return to the throne. My last fight everybody wrote me off. I was under weight and over trained. I’m a destroyer. Not bad for someone with pillow fists.
“I’m a man of my word. I told Wilder, his team, the world. We trained for a knockout, we wasn’t tapping around in that gym.
“I talk like this because I can back it up. People write me off, they look at my fat belly and bald head and think I can’t fight. He fought the best Tyson Fury, we’re both in our primes.
“I expect him [Wilder] to ask for the third fight. I know he’s a warrior and I’ll be waiting.
“He showed the heart of a champion. He got up and battled onto round seven. He is a warrior, he will be back and be champion again. But the king has returned to the top of the throne.”
Deontay Wilder (42 wins, 41 KOs, 1 draw, 1 loss)
“The best man won on the night. My coach threw in the towel but I’m ready to go out on my shield.
“I had a lot of things go on coming into this fight but it is what it is. I just wish my corner would have let me go out on my shield, I’m a warrior. But he [Fury] did what he did and there’s no excuses.”
Fury vs. Wilder III - or Fury vs. Joshua?
It’s reported that a clause is in the contract for a third fight between Fury and Wilder, but UK boxing fans want to see an all-British title bout between Fury and Anthony Joshua, the holder of the other belts in the heavyweight division.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has already called for the British rivals to step into the ring to decide who is the undisputed champion.
Hearn tweeted: “No need for a third let’s go straight to it in the summer! #undisputed.”
Reactions to Fury’s stunning win
Boxing fans and pundits have their say on Twitter after the Vegas rematch...
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