Boxing: Tyson Fury Goes out With a Bang in his Final Fight
Tyson Fury announced his retirement from professional boxing just after beating fellow Brit Dillian Whyte by knockout in the sixth round at a sold-out Wembley Stadium. His win made him go out on a high with a record of 32-0 and making a miraculous comeback from being at rock bottom as he dealt with depression and addiction. The all-British heavyweight showdown for the WBC Heavyweight World Title was at Wembley Stadium in London and is the largest boxing event held on UK shores in terms of attendance, with 94,000spectators.
The fight started off as a very cagey affair as both men were sceptical to one another’s power. Whyte coming in as a heavy underdog, came out in an unusual southpaw stance to throw the “Gypsy King” off. The two began to trade leather, as Tyson seemingly went ahead in terms of scoring, as the halfway mark approached.
In boxing, the saying goes: “it’s the punch that you don’t see coming that knocks you out”. That’s exactly what happened when Fury threw a jab followed by a deadly uppercut in the sixth round, which sent Dillian Whyte to the canvas. The challenger was never able to get his legs back, causing the fight to be waved over. Fury compared the knockout to that of the famous Lennox Lewis’ saying: “I think even Lennox Lewis would be proud of that uppercut”.
In the earlier stages of his boxing career, Tyson Fury was never known for his knockout power but more, so his fast hands and elusive feet work for such a big heavyweight standing at a staggering 6’9” and weighing 18 stone. But in his most recent fights, Fury has had three finishes in his last three fights. The heavyweight champion puts this down to his work with well renowned trainer, Sugar Hill Steward, nephew of the legendary trainer, Emanuel Steward, who trained the likes of Thomas Hearns, Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko.
Leading up to the fight, Fury said that this fight would be his last boxing fight, even ruling out a fight with the winner of Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua for the undisputed heavyweight world championship – The biggest fight that can be made in world boxing. In his post-fight interview in the ring, Fury suggested his retirement by saying: “I am a man of my word. This might be the final curtain for The Gypsy King and what a way to go out”.
Seconds after announcing his retirement from professional boxing, Fury welcomed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou into the ring as the pair teased a crossover exhibition fight with one another, possibly a boxing match with MMA gloves. The “Gypsy King” also never ruled out a return to the WWE after his fight. It seems that fans may have more to see from Tyson Fury, but time will tell.