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Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder promised “retribution, redemption and retaliation” earlier his trilogy combat against champion Tyson Fury.
Instead, helium was successful for a repetition of the rematch — and 1 of the top fights successful heavyweight history.
Fury concluded the trilogy Saturday nighttime by knocking retired Wilder 1:10 into the 11th circular astatine T-Mobile Arena earlier a rabid assemblage of 15,820. He besides bushed Wilder by knockout Feb. 22, 2020, astatine the MGM Grand Garden, and a 2nd consecutive triumph solidifies his presumption arsenic the world’s champion heavyweight and 1 of the sport’s biggest stars.
The combat featured 5 knockdowns and a bevy of hard, cleanable shots that wobbled some fighters passim the people of the 11 rounds.
“It was a large combat tonight. It was worthy of immoderate trilogy successful the past of the sport,” said Fury, a 33-year-old Briton, who celebrated by singing Marc Cohn’s “Walking successful Memphis,” substituting “Vegas” for “Memphis.”
“I’m not going to marque immoderate excuses. Wilder’s a large fighter,” Fury added. “I’ve ever said I’m the champion successful the satellite and he’s the 2nd best.”
It feels arsenic if the epic trilogy began an eternity agone amid the hold caused by COVID-19, but it really statesman Dec. 1, 2018, astatine Staples Center successful Los Angeles. Wilder floored Fury twice, including erstwhile successful the 12th round. But Fury miraculously roseate from the canvas and secured a split-decision gully by outboxing Wilder for astir of the fight.
He dominated the rematch past year, scoring 2 knockdowns en way to a seventh-round stoppage. But Wilder exercised a contractual rematch origin and was awarded the trilogy via arbitration. He promised helium would beryllium amended Saturday successful the 3rd fight.
And, information beryllium told, helium was.
Wilder was the aggressor early, blending near jabs to the assemblage with consecutive rights portion Fury (31-0-1, 22 knockouts) worked to his rhythm. But helium settled successful alternatively rapidly and walked Wilder down successful the 3rd round, connecting with 2 uppercuts and sending him to the canvas with a 3rd close hand.
Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs) bounced backmost successful the 4th circular to sound down Fury doubly with his trademark close hand. But Fury roseate some times and recovered alternatively quickly.
He turned the tide successful the 5th circular and began stalking Wilder, who dilatory started to fatigue. He dropped Wilder with a vicious close successful the 10th circular and closed the amusement successful the 11th by cornering the 35-year-old Alabaman and connecting with 1 much sweeping right.
Referee Russell Mora promptly stopped the fight, resulting successful a method knockout. Fury landed 150 punches compared with 72 for Wilder, per CompuBox. He besides connected connected 39 percent of his punches, compared with 20 percent for Wilder.
Wilder was taken to University Medical Center aft the fight, according to a source.
“I person never, ever seen a heavyweight combat similar this,” said Fury’s promoter, Top Rank president Bob Arum. “Two tremendous warriors.”
The heavyweight part belongs to Fury, who has 2 signature victories implicit Wilder to spell with different marquee triumph implicit Wladimir Klitschko. Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has the IBF, WBA and WBO championships aft upsetting Anthony Joshua past month.
A unification could loom. Perhaps adjacent year.
But that combat tin wait, due to the fact that this 1 was unforgettable.
“I was down a mates times. I was hurt. Wilder’s a beardown puncher, and he’s a pugnacious man,” Fury said. “Oct. 9, 2021, volition spell down successful past arsenic a large fight.”
Contact newsman Sam Gordon astatine sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon connected Twitter.
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