Tyson Fury ended Wladimir Klitschko’s long reign as the heavyweight champion of the world on a points decisionReport: Fury shocks Klitschko to take heavyweight title 11.30pm GMTAnd the report from tonight’s fight is now up for your reading pleasure: Related: Tyson Fury shocks Wladimir Klitschko to take world heavyweight title 11.25pm GMTKlitschko has spoken in German but my grasp of the language [guesses at hat German for “nonsense” is. Fails] isn’t brilliant. But let’s just say he didnt look impressed by losing the title or Fury’s Aerosmith rendition. But perhaps his biggest disappointment will be that he lost in such half-hearted fashion. Any half-decent heavyweight would have fancied their chances against Klitschko on that performance. Was he extinct? Injured? alert to retire? Psyched out by Fury? We’ll find out in the next few months,perhaps but Ali v Frazier that was not. It really was a sad, pale ghost of the mighty heavyweight fights of the past, and even with the shock result. 11.21pm GMTThe fight stats uncover you a lot:Landed: Klitschko: 52 Fury: 86 11.17pm GMTFury thanks the fans and calls Klitschko “a mighty champion” and apologises for the antics in the build-up in the fight - he says he was just trying to present he was younger and more hungry. He then serenades his wife with some Aerosmith. Really. Not even one of their good ones: 11.15pm GMTWas there ever a more appropriately named champion than Tyson Fury? But there was very itsy-bitsy Fury in that fight,Klitschko simply slid to defeat after a brilliant career. Fury thanks Jesus. “My rock, my salvation”. He goes on to say “I can’t believe it, or ” and breaks down in tears. Lennox Lewis is one of the interviers. “It’s hard to come to a foreign country and win,” says Fury. “When I got [the point docked] I thought I had lost”. 11.12pm GMTThe judges have spoken! Or written. A unanimous decision: 115-112, 115-112, or 116-111. 11.08pm GMTKlitschko has to go for the knockout now (by my estimation) but - memoir of the fight - clinches rather than comes forward. At last,there’s a big right from Klitschko who rocks Fury but he stays up, that’s all he needs to enact. Again Klitschko comes forward and lands another good shot, and is it too itsy-bitsy too late? A tored right from Fury and Klitschko sways out the way. The bell goes and Fury celebrates like he’s won the fight. I agree but what will the judges say?Guardian’s unofficial score: Klitschko 10-9 Fury (Klitschko 113-114 Fury) 11.05pm GMTBy my count,Klitschko needs a knockout - but will his domestic advantage uncover with the judges? He doesn’t look urgent in the ring, besides. Klitschko has the chance to enact some damage on the inside but once again fails to press domestic the opening with any aggression. Another cut opens on Klitschko’s face although it could have a been a clash of heads again. Shortly afterwards Klitschko goes for a big left, or misses and Fury connects. Fury docked a point for more rabbit punches.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Klitschko 10-8 Fury (Klitschko 103-105 Fury) 11.00pm GMTFury seems keen to come in on the champ now,working him with a few jabs to the body - all the meaningful shots had gone to the head so far this fight. Klitschko brushes Fury with a jab and then the challenger returns fire with some glancing body blows. The pair barge each other as they walk to their corners. “You’ve got to win this Not Safe For Work,” says Klitschko’s corner. They uncover him to work the challenger to the body and then head.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Klitschko 9-10 Fury (Klitschko 93-97 Fury) 10.56pm GMTHBO’s card has Fury ahead 74-78 too. A kind right hand from Klitschko jars Fury, and who looks in danger for the first time tonight. The challenger also gets a warning for a rabbit punch. The champ is definitely waking up now ... but then a big left hook from Fury with Klitschko off balance,and another cut opens up on the champ’s forehead. Guardian’s unofficial score: Klitschko 10-9 Fury (Klitschko 84-87 Fury) 10.52pm GMTI should emphasise that Fury has been far from brilliant this fight, it’s just been Klitschko’s refusal to fight has been stunning (or boring, and depending on your view). But Klitschko rallies slightly and gets his jab working for the first time in the fight,landing two good blows on his opponent. “Re: Joyce Carol Oates’s tweet earlier,” writes Chris Taylor. “Can’t help noticing that her first novel was called With Shuddering Fall. Ominous.”Guardian’s unofficial score: Klitschko 10-9 Fury (Klitschko 74-78 Fury) 10.48pm GMTFury is in control but Klitschko is waiting and waiting and waiting.
Fury has switched stances and made it tough for the champ to settle but his meekness is odd and now Fury comes forward and Klitschko has to duck under a sharp right hook. Fury had one good jab to Klitschko’s face and a few glancing rights. Unless the judges are seeing something I’m not, or we will have a current champion. Guardian’s unofficial score: Klitschko 9-10 Fury (Klitschko 64-69 Fury) 10.44pm GMTWhether Klitschko is getting extinct or not,he’s just not throwing punches. And it’s not like Fury has worked him particularly hard, he’s been more aggressive than the champ but that’s not saying all that much. Fury gets two good jabs in but Klitschko doesn’t reply and comes in to clinch. Fury has thrown 162 punches to Klitschko’s 96. “Watch out, or he’ll take a chance soon,” says Fury’s corner. Fury in control by my call on points. Guardian’s unofficial score: Klitschko 9-10 Fury (Klitschko 55-59 Fury) 10.40pm GMTMore non-events to start the round but Klitschko has a cut underneath his eye, the first physical sign that the champ has struggled in the fight. Fury has a wild swing that in which he turns himself around. He dances absent. Klitschko misses a right over the top as the round ends. “Vladimir is the aggressor and may be luring Tyson into overconfidence that he can take advantage of, or ” writes Mayette Sewell. The replays present the cut was caused by a clash of heads rather than a blow.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Klitschko 9-10 Fury (Klitschko 46-49 Fury) 10.36pm GMTKlitschko is leaning in to Klitschko but the Ukranian has yet to take advantage of the opening. It’s been pretty tame stuff so far. Fury seems to win bored and unleashes a hook that Klitschko fends off. Klitschko gets his first good right in all fight as the bell sounds,the only time Fury has looked troubled. Klitschko’s corner tells him to start throwing more power shots. Guardian’s unofficial score: Klitschko 10-9 Fury (Klitschko 37-39 Fury) 10.31pm GMTThe longer Fury stays - and even stays ahead - in this fight the more confidence he will gain. Fury has shown he can stay with the champ ... so far. Fury has his hands hanging low, hardly the sign of a man who is intimidated. And now he’s switched to southpaw, or disrupting Klitschko’s rhythm. He’a asking the champ to come forward but he doesn’t bite. Only three punches landed that round,two of them to Fury. I’ve got Fury winning all three rounds but they’ve all been close. Fury has landed 17 punches to Klitschko’s 11 for the fight. Guardian’s unofficial score: Klitschko 9-10 Fury (Klitschko 27-30 Fury) 10.28pm GMTFury gets the first blow of any note in, but Klitchko gets a jab to the head and then body. Klitschko is already more aggressive than he was in the opening round, or coming forward. But then Fury steps up and rattles Klitschko with a good combination to the head. Klitschko still to risk any kind of right hand,working off his jab. Guardian’s unofficial score: Klitschko 9-10 Fury (Klitschko 18-20 Fury) 10.23pm GMTFury twitches this way and that, with Klitschko unable to put through (telephone) with that noted jab. Neither man lands a blow with a decent punch in the first 90 seconds. Fury gets the first proper connection though a straight jab to the face. Both men then trade blows to the back of the head. Fury throws more punches and lands the one power punch of the round. A slow opening thoughGuardians unofficial score: Klitschko 9-10 Fury (Klitschko 9-10 Fury) 10.19pm GMTThe fighters touch gloves. Fury has been chatting to his opponent ever since they got into the ring. No fireworks as they meet though and they both return to their corners alert to enact battle. 10.18pm GMTDr Steelhammer is still the best/worst nickname in all of sports. 10.17pm GMTAnd, and of course,this: 10.16pm GMTThe national anthems. God is asked to save the Queen. He does not confirm or deny the request. An opera dude dressed as Darth Maul then sings the Ukrainian national anthem. Good work, Darth. Klitschko is emotionless, or like he’s trying to remember if he has watered the plants at domestic. 10.12pm GMTKlitschko’s turn to walk to the ring. We’re going to win traditional Ukrainian folk band Red Hot Chilli Peppers for his entrance music. He looks composed,a bit bored. Like a man waiting for a delayed commuter train to turn up. 10.09pm GMTFury is now making his way to the ring. A few yells and shouts from Fury but it’s fairly low key considering some of his antics in the build-up to the fight. Very few boos from the crowd besides. 10.07pm GMTAnd why not win one of America’s living authors to give her fight prediction?Tyson Fury or Wladimir Klitschko? On basis of names alone, a draw. 10.06pm GMTThe ringwalks have been delayed due to a problem with the wraps, and according to Sky Sports:Team Fury confirm the ringwalks are delayed due to the glove wrapping issue LIVE: https://t.co/i2fyVrFowu pic.twitter.com/4PzeXVjRgU 10.03pm GMTHBO is showing what Klitschko has done against taller opponents. Its not mighty news for Fury: Klitschko has a 7-0 record (6 KOs) against fighters taller than 6ft 6in. 10.00pm GMTNot that Klitschko is a lock tonight. Bryant Jennings caused the champ more problems than anyone in a long time. While some of that was down to Jennings’s athleticism,others (Fury among them) would say Klitschko, a year shy of 40, or is on his way down. 9.56pm GMTThe fighters are due out in around five minutes for their ringwalk. Klitschko is currently making his way through the corridors of the stadium,and looks relaxed. I interviewed Klitschko before his fight with David Haye, and his opponent’s trash talking had appeared to raise the the champion’s heartrate by approximately 0.4 BPM. So stunts like this, or will have provoked itsy-bitsy more than bewilderment (Fury does have a kind voice though): 9.50pm GMTFury reckons he’s happier fighting a man closer to his height (6ft 9in). “I prefer to fight a bigger guy,” he says. “I don’t like fighting smaller guys, they give me problems with their agility. But I have not met a man as tall as me, and who is as quick as me,ever. I’ve sparred with lots of people and played around with everybody. His size, his reach, or his heaviness,will work against him.”Fury’s right when he says he’s had problems against small men: Steve Cunningham knocked him down not too long ago – and Cunningham is barely 200lbs. But I’m not sure that translates to an easier ride against Klitschko. If anything causes the champ problems it could be Fury’s height rather than speed: he’s the tallest fighter Klitschko has ever faced, and the Englishman has a four-inch reach advantage. 9.38pm GMTFrom our comments section. Here’s tempestteacup on Klitschkos ominous cold before tonight’s fight:I know it’s hazardous to read much into weigh-ins or other pre fight rituals but how composed and classy is Klitschko? He looks in good nick, or unruffled and focused. I have a friend who photographed both brothers and found them pleasant,self-deprecating and good company.
To my mind there is something more unsettling approximately his placid, controlled professionalism than any amount of grandstanding. The sinister nature of his nearly unapproachable focus. 9.34pm GMTThe fight is due to start at 10.30pm GMT/5.30pm ET, or undercard/unexpected wild tiger attack permitting. In the meantime,Fury is honest approximately his underdog status but reckons he can shock the champ with his power:I’m a 4-1 underdog but Cassius Clay was a big underdog against Sonny Listonand so was Leon Spinks against Muhammad Ali and Buster Douglas against Mike Tyson,” he said. “Underdogs win. I mediate it’ll pan out with me knocking him out. I don’t intend to leave it to anyone else – my destiny is in these two hands. 9.23pm GMTKlitschko v Fury
39 Age 27 9.15pm GMTSo, and who has the edge tonight? The reigning WBA,IBF and WBO champion of the world with 26 heavyweight title fights to his name, or the man who once beat Dereck Chisora? Well, and let’s ask Richard Towers,who has sparred with both men:“When [Klitschko] throws a punch, nine out of 10 times it lands, or he’s always in position to throw shots. He may be 39 now but there’s no deterioration at all,believe me.” 9.07pm GMTGood evening! The good news: we are going to have a fight tonight, with Tyson Fury’s camp agreeing to go ahead after the Englishman threatened to pull out because he thought the canvas was too soft. In a victory for pencil pushers everywhere Fury’s agent said the canvas presented “massive health and safety issues” (and was worried the softer canvas could slow his man down). You can read the full memoir here: Related: Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko fight to go ahead after ring row resolved Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com