Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.
Their first fight was a controversial draw. The second, a definitive knockout victory for WBC heavyweight champion Fury.
Fury entered their third fight favored substantially. Both weighed more and predicated a knockout.
Something had to give.
It did.
Fury got up from two knockdowns to floor Wilder three times and retain his WBC title with an exciting 11th round stoppage at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV Saturday night.
The bout started fast. Wilder jabbed to the body. He also fired rights to the head. Fury, on his back foot, assessed the situation. He seemed to be saying to himself, ‘Who is this guy?” Wilder kept jabbing downstairs. Fury (31-0, 23 KOs) landed his jab with less than a minute to go in in the stanza. A one-two caught Wilder.
Wilder (42-2, 41 KOs) continued to score in round two. Fury clipped Wilder with a right to the side. Both fighters landed long right-hand punches.
In round three, Fury started using feints and scoring with rights. Wilder fought back with his favorite punch. Fury countered. A short inside right deposited Wilder on all fours. He got up at five. Fury nailed him with an uppercut near the end of the heat.
Fury sent Wilder back with a left to the head in round four. Wilder fought back with shots on the inside. Fury went to the body. Wilder caught Fury with a hard right that spun him to the canvas. The defending champion pulled himself up and braced himself as Wilder tried to end things. A short right off the noggin put Fury down for a second time. Fury again beat the count but looked shocked.
Wilder went searching for a knockout in round five. Fury boxed and slugged. His jab scored points. Wilder landed, but Fury took it well.
Fury kept pumping his left in round six. Wilder would pause and throw his heat-seeking right. Fury knocked his head sideways with a jab. Fury was hardly missing with his right. One of em buzzed Wilder in round seven.
Each man went to the body. Wilder ate a right. Fury hurt him again with an uppercut and right.
In round eight, Wilder was gasping for air. Two Fury rights wobbled Wilder. He fought back. Fury looked fresher, but Wilder was still punching. Fury clipped Wilder with a left hook in round nine. Wilder dug deep and let two shots go. One landed.
With three rounds to go in the fight, Fury looked more energetic. Fury almost ended matters in round 10. After Wilder went to the body, Fury landed a wicked one-two. Wilder let go with a few blows that missed. Fury countered with a right to the ear. Down went Wilder. He was up at six. Wilder fought back, but Fury clipped him with hooks. Fury went for the kill, but somehow Wilder came back and hurt Fury with counter potshots.
Fury landed a hard right in round 11. The big man from England connected with two rights while Wilder languished on the ropes. One more sweeping blow collapsed Wilder on his side
Referee Russell Mora was waving the fight off as Wilder fell to the floor.
The time was 1:10 seconds into round 11
“It was a great fight tonight,” said Fury. “Wilder is a real tough fighter.”
