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Boxing

02nd Dec 2018

Deontay Wilder’s face when Tyson Fury got up from knockdown said it all

Wayne Farry

What a fight.

Tyson Fury’s WBC heavyweight title fight against Deontay Wilder did not disappoint in terms of the action in the ring. From the start of the 12-round contest, Fury smartly avoided almost everything that the champion offered, leaving him wildly swinging at air on numerous occasions.

The fight ended as a draw after a split-decision from the judges which followed the most stunning of final rounds you’re ever likely to see in a fight.

Fully aware that he needed something big to have a chance of winning the fight, Wilder came out swinging in the 12th and finally connected with a powerful double which absolutely floored Fury.

‘The Gypsy King’ had been on the mat once earlier in the fight, after receiving a light knock to the back of the head while off-balance, but this one was different.

Wilder connected with a left hook which shook Fury, before levelling him with a right, leaving the Englishman flat out on the floor. At that point the fight looked well and truly over. Fury’s arms were extended and for a second he appeared to have been knocked out.

The champ certainly thought he was, as evidenced by his swaggering dance and kisses to the crowd. He was ecstatic and he was celebrating. Fury wasn’t having it though.

Incredibly, he rose from the floor and got back up, finishing the fight strongly and almost finishing Wilder, and it was Wilder’s reaction to this Lazarus moment which perfectly encapsulated the events we were witnessing.

In the blink of an eye, Wilder went from exultant to spooked, looking out of the corner of his eyes and scarcely believing what he was witnessing.

To be fair, we understand where he was coming from, we could barely believe it ourselves.