WBC Heavyweight Champion “The Gypsy King” Tyson Fury earned another jewel on his crown October 9, 2021, after an 11th round KO of Deontay Wilder. It was like watching big budget action movie presented live.
Hours after the fight ended, I still get tense, with my teeth and body clinched, at the thought of what I witnessed.
This was the third clash between two superb heavyweight rivals, a trilogy-capping slugfest already being called a classic bout.
I’m not ready to hurl the C-word its way just yet, but I was entertained by the pageantry of their ring entrances and unnerved by every punch thrown by defending champion Fury.
After being clobbered in their previous fight, Wilder came out looking sharper, more prepared, and clearly the aggressor. That wasn’t enough.
Recovering from being knocked down in the 3rd round, Wilder dropped Fury twice in the 4th. The Bronze Bomber landed some good shots to do it, but I never felt the same sense of dread that came over me every time Fury landed a punch.
The Gypsy King’s blows were thunderous and stiff. The shots were so damaging and malicious that I’d close my eyes and look away unsettled. He battered Wilder with crunching jabs, chopping right hooks, and neck-snapping uppercuts that appeared hard to withstand.
Wilder kept throwing rockets at the champion as his wobbly legs expelled all their ammo from the 5th round until the decisive 11th. The way it was going I didn’t think Wilder would survive the 7th round. Yet he showed heart while Fury prolonged his punishment as he hunted for a knockout victory.
Following a massive straight right to the face, Tyson Fury cleared the lane to the KO opportunity. With Wilder backpedaling, the champ jammed him with crisp, intentional shots to face and uppercuts to the chin, ending the flurry with a devastating hook that made Wilder fall lifeless and me wince equally in horror and delight.
Again, I’m not going to use the C-word, but I am giving Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder III eleven rounds of applause. |THIS.
[By Mr. Joe Walker]
