Despite fighting in Germany, which is the Lion’s den and where the Klitschko brothers have made it their boxing home, Tyson Fury won the IBF, WBO, IBO, & WBA (Super) Heavyweight with a unanimous decision against Wladimir Klitschko.
Fury might not be everyone’s cup of tea, and singing an Aerosmith song at the end of the fight was weird to say the least, but the 27-year old British anomaly might help breath some life into the Heavyweight division with his character, although his fighting style isn’t a whole lot better and more attractive than the technical excellence of the Klitschko brothers, dominating the division for over a decade.
It was the first loss for Wladimir since 2004, and has since slowly picked up title after title to unify the division, including after his brother retired to pursue a career in politics. But Fury, younger by 12 years, presented too much of a challenge. Big enough to not let Klitschko’s length be an issue and more powerful at this stage of his career, it was a rare occasion of seeing Klitschko without a single advantage in a fight except for experience.
Alas, it didn’t help him. The ringside judges scored the fight 115-112, 115-112, 116-111 in favor of Fury, who remains undefeated and probably would have gotten an even better score if it wasn’t for one point being taken off for a cheap shot from behind. He bloodied Klitschko’s face, who at the end had a hard time keeping his left eye open. Fury looked exhausted in the end, but Klitschko, knowing he’s going to need a knockout in the final round, just didn’t have anything left to get it.
Boxing is in a weird phase right now. The Heavyweight division has been without a star that’s capable of garnering some interest in the United States for a very long time. The Klitschko brothers stayed away from there mostly, fighting in Germany, where it was most profitable for them. Fury, a Brit, might be more suited to fit the international star role with an appeal to the American market, although the low quality all around of the division might make it difficult for him, at least in the next few years.