Tyson Fury dominates Deontay Wilder to win WBC title in rematch

The "Gypsy King" now rules over them all, as the WBC champion and more importantly the best heavyweight in the world today. Tyson Fury floored fellow unbeaten old foe Deontay Wilder twice before stopping him in round seven of a dominant performance in Las Vegas.

Fury started far more aggressively, putting Wilder on the back foot as he had promised and landing his jab with ease. The Brit also connected with a couple of decent right hands but, crucially, kept the dangerous champion wary.

Fury cut off the ring well but quickly bounced back out when Wilder got set. The American began to double up his own jab, a smart move against a moving target. Fury’s head movement was effective, for the most part, however.

Fury was clearly in the ascendency as we entered the third but we had seen this before, both in their first fight and when Wilder sleepwalked through his rematch with Luis Ortiz before bombing him out with one right hand in the seventh. Ortiz did not drop him though, as Fury did towards the end of the round, with a one-two, the right appearing to catch Wilder around the back of the head.

The fourth was quieter, Fury guilty of smothering his own work at times. Perhaps he was overeager after incredible early success. Wilder was finding his feet once again.

Fury opened the fifth with another big right to make Wilder, bleeding from the mouth and ear, hold on. A second knockdown followed, a left hook around the side of the head setting up another to the body. Wilder looked almost out on his feet but caught a break when Fury was docked a point for pushing his head down.

Fury was boxing superbly but Wilder showed immense courage to stay in there and hit back bravely in the sixth. Fury looked to remain in close, targeting the body and coming through with uppercuts. At halfway and having won every round, it was Fury’s fight to lose.

Midway through the seventh, Fury broke through with a hard right between the guard and referee Kenny Bayless saw the towel from Wilder’s corner, indicating the departing WBC king had finally taken enough, and stepped in despite the Alabama warrior’s protests.

The so-called lineal champ now has a legitimate world title once again.