For Klitschko looked like one of the most unbeatable fighters in boxing, right up until the night when he was outdueled, outmuscled and outpointed by Fury, the giant challenger from England, who took his career record to 25-0.
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Instead, he chose to serenade his wife Paris with an Acappella rendition of “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” by Aerosmith.
And Fury backed up his numerous pre-fight taunts and even sang “I’ll be the one with all the belts” to Klitschko last Wednesday when he modified the lyrics to Bette Midler’s Wind Beneath my Wings – a prediction that came true.
The 39-year-old Ukrainian title defender remained too passive throughout the fight and was unable to close the distance to Fury, whose arm range remained an insoluble problem for Klitschko. “And thanks very much for having me”. Fury found the opening rounds easy going and by the fourth those in attendance realized Klitschko simply wasn’t aggressive enough to win the 12 rounds, and in current form would find a knockout blow impossible to land.
Then: “Why do we need to mention Deontay Wilder?”. I wish I would have landed more clean shots. “I’ll be the most charismatic champion since Muhammad Ali”.
The whole video makes for interesting viewing, but skip to 5:08 if you’re just after the predictions. I want to be a great champion and I want to do it again [against Klitschko].
Tyson Fury is named after this guy (Carlo Allegri/AP) 4. “I tried but it didn’t work”, said Klitschko, who at 1.98-meters (6-foot-6), was in the unusual position of facing someone taller.
The 27-year-old Fury was awarded the fight in Duesseldorf 115-112, 115-112 and 116-111 by the judges to take Klitschko’s WBA, IBF, IBO and WBO belts as the Ukrainian suffered his first defeat since 2004. “I’d like to say to Wladimir, you’re a great champion”, Fury said. The Briton opened a cut under Klitschko’s right eye in the fifth round and proceeded to control the rest of the fight.
So while Klitschko will reportedly exercise his rematch clause Fury can enjoy the fact that he is king of the hill.
An emotional Fury said: “I hope to have many more of these victories in the future”. Fury was hurt by another, however, but held on for the final bell.
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Both men claimed victory but when the scores were announced, it was Fury whose hand was raised to signal a changing of the guard in the heavyweight division.
