VIDEO: The uppercut that sealed Fury victory over Whyte
How social media reacted to the victory
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Is this the last we’ll see of Tyson Fury?
RUGARI: Welcome home, Gypsy King
By Vince Rugari
London: Welcome home, Gypsy King. Tyson Fury’s first fight on British soil in four years - and maybe his last ever - has ended with a stunning knockout win over Dillian Whyte in front of a heaving Wembley Stadium in London.
On one of the biggest nights in the history of British boxing, Fury mounted a successful defence of his WBC, The Ring and lineal heavyweight titles and kept his unbeaten record intact with a crushing sixth-round stoppage victory.
Fury knocks down Whyte to win the WBC heavyweight title.Credit: PA
Fury had claimed every round with relative ease until he produced a whopping right uppercut, set up by a textbook double jab, which sent Whyte tumbling to the canvas. Referee Mark Lyson immediately stepped in and called it off.
Afterwards, Fury grabbed the microphone and, as he tends to do after his wins, led the 94,000-strong crowd with a scratchy yet no less enthralling singalong of Don McLean’s classic ‘American Pie’ - one of the songs that preceded his extravagant walk to the ring.
“Dillian Whyte is a warrior and I believe Dillian will be a world champion but tonight he met a great in the sport and one of the greatest heavyweights in the sport and unfortunately for Dillian Whyte he had to face me tonight,” Fury said. “There is no disgrace. It’s a tough game, man. He’s as strong as a bull and he’s got a heart of a lion. But you’re not messing with a mediocre heavyweight, you’re messing with the best man on the planet and you saw that tonight.”
According to CompuBox, Fury landed 76 of his 243 punches to Whyte’s 29 from 171. The one that decided it was Fury’s 100th power punch thrown and 47th that met its target.
Fury had not fought in his home country since his remarkable comeback from mental health issues, drug and alcohol addictions, which derailed his initial reign as undisputed champion and drove him to the brink of suicide. Now an inspiration to millions in the United Kingdom, and indeed around the world, this occasion was designed to be his homecoming and fortunately for the almost entirely pro-Fury crowd, it went to script.
This was his 32nd win from 33 fights, and that winning punch will go down as yet another signature moment to sit next to his upset win over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 and his thrilling trilogy with Deontay Wilder.
Is this the end for Fury?
“I got offered to fight at Wembley and I thought I owed it to the fans. I owed it to every person in the United Kingdom to fight at Wembley. Now it’s all done, I have to be a man of my word. I think that’s it. This might be the final curtain for the Gypsy King. What a way to go out. A big thank you to the United Kingdom.”
Whyte hits the deck.Credit: Getty
Fury celebrates his victory. Credit: Getty
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Fury thanks god, home crowd
Fury has still got it. Is that the end for one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all-time?
Seconds before the sixth round, he delivers.
“First of all, I want to say as always, I dedicate this to my lord and saviour Jesus Christ, he gave me the victory again tonight and I give him the glory. In the mighty name of of Jesus Christ, I won this fight in this country tonight, in my lovely, my home ... ENGLAND.”
WHYTE IS DOWN! FURY WINS
Wow. It’s all over.
Fury has done it. A right uppercut that catches Whyte by complete surprise.
What a punch that was. Right on the chin.
Round five: Fury goes in for the kill as Whyte hangs in
Tyson Fury holds onto Dillian Whyte.Credit: Getty
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Round four: This fight is a grind but Fury looks the goods
The fight has got scrappy. Some interesting tactics. Referee having a very firm word. A little head clash. You love to see it.