Tag: Fury vs. Wilder 3

Who is next for Tyson Fury? Here are 5 potential opponents

Who is next for Tyson Fury? Here are five potential opponents after his sensational KO of Deontay Wilder on Saturday.

Tyson Fury is still celebrating his knockout of Deontay Wilder in their instant classic Saturday in Las Vegas but people are already asking: What’s next for The Gypsy King?

Apparently it won’t be a fight against fellow titleholder Oleksandr Usyk, who is expected to face Anthony Joshua a second time early next year. The Ukrainian stunned Joshua and the boxing world by outpointing the big Briton to win three of the four major titles on Sept. 25. He must now honor a rematch clause, assuming Joshua demands that he does.

Of course, Fury could go directly into a showdown with Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship if Joshua agrees to step aside and then fight the winner of Fury vs. Usyk. That undoubtedly would require a massive payment to Joshua, however, It seems unlikely.

If Usyk vs. Joshua II happens, the soonest Fury could face the winner is next fall or even winter.

That leaves a number of solid, but lower-profile potential opponents for Fury to fight in the meantime. Here are five that could make for an interesting matchup with the WBC champ.

DILLIAN WHYTE VS. OTTO WALLIN WINNER

Whyte and Wallin are scheduled to meet in what should be a competitive fight on Oct. 30 at O2 Arena in London. Either man would be a legitimate opponent for Fury. Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs) has had his ups and downs – including knockout losses to Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin, the latter of which he avenged by stoppage in his most-recent fight – but he’s a good-sized, capable heavyweight who resonates in Great Britain. Plus, Fury has hinted that Whyte is a logical next foe. Maybe it could take place in the U.K., where Fury hasn’t fought since 2018. Wallin (22-1, 14 KOs) already gave Fury a tougher challenge than expected in a unanimous-decision loss in September 2019. Fury fought through a horrific gash above his right eye, which probably hampered his effort. Still, Wallin won respect with his performance. A rematch doesn’t seem out of line.

ANDY RUIZ JR.

Ruiz (34-2, 22 KOs) would bring a good story into the ring, which is attractive to everyone involved in the promotion. He got to Joshua before Usyk did, taking him out seven rounds to win three shares of the championship as millions watched in astonishment in June 2019. Joshua turned the tables on an ill-prepared Ruiz by decision to regain his titles six months later but no one has forgotten what the chubby American did in the first fight. Could a quick, resilient and rededicated Ruiz do to Fury what he did to Joshua? A lot of people would be interested to find out. One more thing: Ruiz, ranked No. 2 behind Wilder by the WBC, presumably will rise to No. 1.

ROBERT HELENIUS

The 6-foot-6 Finn seemed to be irrelevant only a few years ago, the victim of nagging injuries. His eighth-round knockout loss to Gerald Washington in July 2019 felt like the one-time contender’s last gasp. Then, as his injuries – most notably a bad shoulder — finally healed, Helenius (31-3, 19 KOs) made surged back up the rankings. He stopped journeyman Mateus Osorio immediately after the setback to Washington and then destroyed rising young slugger Adam Kownacki of Brooklyn in back-to-back fights, the second time by disqualification on the Fury-Wilder III card. Helenius, 37, might have the size, power and experience to give Fury problems. It would be a fascinating matchup.

JOE JOYCE

The 2016 Olympic silver medalist from London would, like Whyte, make for a big fight in the U.K. Joyce (13-0, 12 KOs) stopped Daniel Dubois in a showdown of unbeaten heavyweight prospects last November to rise into prime title contention, after which he stopped Carlos Takam in six this past July. He’s ranked in the Top 10 by three of the four sanctioning bodies, including No. 3 by the WBC. Joyce is a big man, 6-foot-6 and as much as 270 pounds. And he’s a capable boxer. His problem might be his age, 36, which is three years older than Fury. He needs to be moved quickly. And what better move than to face Fury?

FRANK SANCHEZ

Sanchez (19-0, 13 KOs) took a nice step in his career on the Fury-Wilder undercard, defeating fellow rising contender Efe Ajagba by a convincing unanimous decision. Sanchez doesn’t have the name recognition of the others on this list, which would probably hurt his chances of landing such a fight. And the product of the Cuban amateur system is a superb boxer who is adverse to taking risks, which makes him a relatively dull fighter. On the plus side, his skill set, quickness and athleticism might make him a legitimate threat to Fury. And while he’s not huge, at 6-4, 240 pounds, he wouldn’t be at a prohibitive size disadvantage. Purists might like this fight, the fans maybe not as much.

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Who is next for Tyson Fury? Here are 5 potential opponents

Who is next for Tyson Fury? Here are five potential opponents after his sensational KO of Deontay Wilder on Saturday.

Tyson Fury is still celebrating his knockout of Deontay Wilder in their instant classic Saturday in Las Vegas but people are already asking: What’s next for The Gypsy King?

Apparently it won’t be a fight against fellow titleholder Oleksandr Usyk, who is expected to face Anthony Joshua a second time early next year. The Ukrainian stunned Joshua and the boxing world by outpointing the big Briton to win three of the four major titles on Sept. 25. He must now honor a rematch clause, assuming Joshua demands that he does.

Of course, Fury could go directly into a showdown with Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship if Joshua agrees to step aside and then fight the winner of Fury vs. Usyk. That undoubtedly would require a massive payment to Joshua, however, It seems unlikely.

If Usyk vs. Joshua II happens, the soonest Fury could face the winner is next fall or even winter.

That leaves a number of solid, but lower-profile potential opponents for Fury to fight in the meantime. Here are five that could make for an interesting matchup with the WBC champ.

DILLIAN WHYTE VS. OTTO WALLIN WINNER

Whyte and Wallin are scheduled to meet in what should be a competitive fight on Oct. 30 at O2 Arena in London. Either man would be a legitimate opponent for Fury. Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs) has had his ups and downs – including knockout losses to Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin, the latter of which he avenged by stoppage in his most-recent fight – but he’s a good-sized, capable heavyweight who resonates in Great Britain. Plus, Fury has hinted that Whyte is a logical next foe. Maybe it could take place in the U.K., where Fury hasn’t fought since 2018. Wallin (22-1, 14 KOs) already gave Fury a tougher challenge than expected in a unanimous-decision loss in September 2019. Fury fought through a horrific gash above his right eye, which probably hampered his effort. Still, Wallin won respect with his performance. A rematch doesn’t seem out of line.

ANDY RUIZ JR.

Ruiz (34-2, 22 KOs) would bring a good story into the ring, which is attractive to everyone involved in the promotion. He got to Joshua before Usyk did, taking him out seven rounds to win three shares of the championship as millions watched in astonishment in June 2019. Joshua turned the tables on an ill-prepared Ruiz by decision to regain his titles six months later but no one has forgotten what the chubby American did in the first fight. Could a quick, resilient and rededicated Ruiz do to Fury what he did to Joshua? A lot of people would be interested to find out. One more thing: Ruiz, ranked No. 2 behind Wilder by the WBC, presumably will rise to No. 1.

ROBERT HELENIUS

The 6-foot-6 Finn seemed to be irrelevant only a few years ago, the victim of nagging injuries. His eighth-round knockout loss to Gerald Washington in July 2019 felt like the one-time contender’s last gasp. Then, as his injuries – most notably a bad shoulder — finally healed, Helenius (31-3, 19 KOs) made surged back up the rankings. He stopped journeyman Mateus Osorio immediately after the setback to Washington and then destroyed rising young slugger Adam Kownacki of Brooklyn in back-to-back fights, the second time by disqualification on the Fury-Wilder III card. Helenius, 37, might have the size, power and experience to give Fury problems. It would be a fascinating matchup.

JOE JOYCE

The 2016 Olympic silver medalist from London would, like Whyte, make for a big fight in the U.K. Joyce (13-0, 12 KOs) stopped Daniel Dubois in a showdown of unbeaten heavyweight prospects last November to rise into prime title contention, after which he stopped Carlos Takam in six this past July. He’s ranked in the Top 10 by three of the four sanctioning bodies, including No. 3 by the WBC. Joyce is a big man, 6-foot-6 and as much as 270 pounds. And he’s a capable boxer. His problem might be his age, 36, which is three years older than Fury. He needs to be moved quickly. And what better move than to face Fury?

FRANK SANCHEZ

Sanchez (19-0, 13 KOs) took a nice step in his career on the Fury-Wilder undercard, defeating fellow rising contender Efe Ajagba by a convincing unanimous decision. Sanchez doesn’t have the name recognition of the others on this list, which would probably hurt his chances of landing such a fight. And the product of the Cuban amateur system is a superb boxer who is adverse to taking risks, which makes him a relatively dull fighter. On the plus side, his skill set, quickness and athleticism might make him a legitimate threat to Fury. And while he’s not huge, at 6-4, 240 pounds, he wouldn’t be at a prohibitive size disadvantage. Purists might like this fight, the fans maybe not as much.

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Watch it: Tyson Fury’s KO of Deontay Wilder from crowd perspective

Watch it: Tyson Fury’s knockout of Deontay Wilder from the perspective of the crowd at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Tyson Fury’s 11th-round knockout of Deontay Wilder in their wild fight Saturday night in Las Vegas was brutal from any angle.

Below is a video from the perspective of those sitting not far from ringside at T-Mobile Arena.

Fury successfully defended his heavyweight title in his third fight with Wilder in what everyone agrees with a classic war.

[lawrence-related id=24699,24702,24656]

Watch it: Tyson Fury’s KO of Deontay Wilder from crowd perspective

Watch it: Tyson Fury’s knockout of Deontay Wilder from the perspective of the crowd at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Tyson Fury’s 11th-round knockout of Deontay Wilder in their wild fight Saturday night in Las Vegas was brutal from any angle.

Below is a video from the perspective of those sitting not far from ringside at T-Mobile Arena.

Fury successfully defended his heavyweight title in his third fight with Wilder in what everyone agrees with a classic war.

[lawrence-related id=24699,24702,24656]

Good, bad, worse: Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder gave us a gem

A critical look at the past week in boxing GOOD Boxing fans dream all their lives of a fight like the one on Saturday in Las Vegas. Sound like hyperbole? I’ve been covering boxing for most of that past 30 years and have been a fan for much longer. …

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

Boxing fans dream all their lives of a fight like the one on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Sound like hyperbole? I’ve been covering boxing for most of that past 30 years and have been a fan for much longer. I’ve seen many great fights. And I don’t hesitate to say that Tyson Fury-Deonaty Wilder III was one of the best, particularly if you consider the division and magnitude of the event.

The ebbs and flows. The ability of both fighters to overcome extreme adversity, including four of five brutal knockdowns. The will to fight through exhaustion. And a dramatic knockout to cap off the night.

Those are the ingredients of a classic battle. And the fact it happened on a heavyweight championship stage made it all the more memorable.

Fury gave a truly remarkable performance, the greatest of his career. He wasn’t fighting the same man he overwhelmed and stopped in seven rounds last year. He was face to face with a warrior bent on revenge and the powerful right hand that could exact it.

The Englishman took a walk through hell, including two knockdowns in the fourth round that would’ve ended the night of most heavyweights. He withstood the assault, continued to battle and finally stopped his brave, but beaten nemesis in the 11th round to retain the title he took from Wilder in their last fight.

I can’t say with certainty but I believe Fury might’ve clinched a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame on Saturday night. These type of performance in these type of fights tend to create legends.

Wilder? The former champ lost a fight but undoubtedly gained legions of fans with his courageous effort. That might not mean much to him now but it will in time.

There were no losers in this incredible fight.

***

BAD

I hate the fact that Fury can’t fight Oleksandr Usyk immediately for the undisputed heavyweight championship.

That matchup would be best for the sport, having a single, recognizable king in the glamour division. No heavyweight in the four-belt era has ever possessed all the hardware. And, of course, the fans would embrace it.

Alas, Usyk is expected to face former titleholder Anthony Joshua sometime early next year. The relatively small, but talented cruiserweight-turned-heavyweight stunned Joshua and the boxing world by winning a unanimous decision and three of the four major belts last month.

Fury could fight the winner of the Usyk-Joshua rematch for heavyweight supremacy but that could be a year from now. And, as we know, anything can happen in that time to prevent the fight from taking place at all.

We have no choice but to be patient and hope.

In the meantime, Fury has some worthy potential opponents for the spring. Dillian Whyte would be a compelling foe, particularly in the U.K. Maybe Fury fights there next.

I also like Andy Ruiz Jr. or Robert Helenius for Fury, if promotional rivalries can be overcome. Ruiz has his history with Joshua, which makes him a compelling story. And Helenius has now destroyed Adam Kownacki in consecutive fights, rejuvenating his career.

You can bet that Fury will give us a show both before and during his next fight, whomever the opponent is. And, of course, he almost certainly will continue to build his legacy by having his hand raised.

Then, if we’re lucky, it will be on to either Usyk or Joshua.

***

WORSE

One must feel for Wilder.

The man swore that we’d see a different fighter from the one who was stopped in seven rounds by Fury in February of last year. And we did. However, he ended up suffering the same fate. He has now lost back-to-back fights to his rival, which is a significant step backward in his career.

Of course, we understand the bitterness he surely is feeling right now.

We can only hope that he will come to understand the gift he gave us on Saturday. Wilder lost a fight but he gained untold admiration from those who saw the fight, which might not lead directly to another title shot but is precious nonetheless.

Few believed Wilder could give Fury much of a fight after the beating he took the last time. In the end, he turned a mismatch into an unforgettable war through sheer determination.

Wilder is known primarily as a puncher. And we knew he was tough, as he showed in his first fight with Luis Ortiz and in the final moments of his last fight with Fury. He wanted to continue. However, we didn’t know he was this kind of warrior, the kind who would risk it all to emerge victorious.

How many times in that fight did he appear to be on the precipice of demise only to somehow find more energy and battle back? I doubt I was alone when I thought during one of those moments, “My God, how is he doing this?”

Indeed, he would’ve gotten up from his third and final knockdown. He simply couldn’t, which referee Russell Mora recognized immediately. Wilder had given more than enough.

If a fighter can lose by an 11th-round knockout and emerge as a winner, Wilder is that fighter.

***

RABBIT PUNCHES

I was impressed with heavyweights Frank Sanchez and Jared Anderson, who won their fights on the Fury-Wilder undercard. Sanchez (19-0, 13 KOs) fairly easily outboxed Efe Ajagba (15-1, 12 KOs) en route to a unanimous decision. And Anderson (10-0, 10 KOs) stopped overmatched Vladimir Tereshkin (22-1-1, 12 KOs) in two rounds. Who’s most likely to win a heavyweight title? Tough one. Sanchez, a product of the Cuban amateur system, is an excellent boxer but doesn’t seem to have a warrior mentality. That could hinder him longterm. Anderson seems to be the complete package but he’s young, only 21. It’s too early to get a bead on him. I’ll be wishy washy: I won’t be surprised if both of them end up with a title one day. … Robert Helenius (31-3, 19 KOs) has brought his career as elite heavyweight back to life with back-to-back victories over Adam Kownacki (20-02, 15 KOs), including a beat down that ended by disqualification on the Fury-Wilder card. The 6-foot-6½ Finn seems to be better than ever 37, which might not be good news for other top heavyweights. This guy is a threat to anyone. …

Slugger Edgar Berlanga (18-0, 16 KOs) received a stiff test from Marcelo Coceres (30-3-1, 16 KOs), surviving a ninth-round knockdown to win a unanimous decision in a competitive fight on the Fury-Wilder card. Berlanga didn’t look like an elite fighter. It’s starting to look as if he won’t live up to the hype. … The biggest surprise on the Fury-Wilder card was former 154-pound titleholder Julian Williams’ split-decision loss to Vladimir Hernandez (13-4, 6 KOs). The Williams who defeated Jarrett Hurd by a unanimous decision to win his belts in 2019 probably would’ve found a way to beat the relentlessly aggressive, but limited Mexican. The current version of Williams (27-3-1, 16 KOs) couldn’t do that. Maybe it was an almost-21-month layoff and a spirited effort on Hernandez’s part. Maybe he’s just not the same fighter after his knockout loss to Jeison Rosario in January of last year. … Another winner on Saturday night was new trainer Malik Scott, Wilder’s trainer. He produced a different fighter from the one who was dominated by Fury last year. His took a significant step in his career as a mentor.

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[lawrence-related id=24702,24656,24626,24618,24615,24610,24606,24601]

Good, bad, worse: Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder gave us a gem

A critical look at the past week in boxing GOOD Boxing fans dream all their lives of a fight like the one on Saturday in Las Vegas. Sound like hyperbole? I’ve been covering boxing for most of that past 30 years and have been a fan for much longer. …

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

Boxing fans dream all their lives of a fight like the one on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Sound like hyperbole? I’ve been covering boxing for most of that past 30 years and have been a fan for much longer. I’ve seen many great fights. And I don’t hesitate to say that Tyson Fury-Deonaty Wilder III was one of the best, particularly if you consider the division and magnitude of the event.

The ebbs and flows. The ability of both fighters to overcome extreme adversity, including four of five brutal knockdowns. The will to fight through exhaustion. And a dramatic knockout to cap off the night.

Those are the ingredients of a classic battle. And the fact it happened on a heavyweight championship stage made it all the more memorable.

Fury gave a truly remarkable performance, the greatest of his career. He wasn’t fighting the same man he overwhelmed and stopped in seven rounds last year. He was face to face with a warrior bent on revenge and the powerful right hand that could exact it.

The Englishman took a walk through hell, including two knockdowns in the fourth round that would’ve ended the night of most heavyweights. He withstood the assault, continued to battle and finally stopped his brave, but beaten nemesis in the 11th round to retain the title he took from Wilder in their last fight.

I can’t say with certainty but I believe Fury might’ve clinched a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame on Saturday night. These type of performance in these type of fights tend to create legends.

Wilder? The former champ lost a fight but undoubtedly gained legions of fans with his courageous effort. That might not mean much to him now but it will in time.

There were no losers in this incredible fight.

***

BAD

I hate the fact that Fury can’t fight Oleksandr Usyk immediately for the undisputed heavyweight championship.

That matchup would be best for the sport, having a single, recognizable king in the glamour division. No heavyweight in the four-belt era has ever possessed all the hardware. And, of course, the fans would embrace it.

Alas, Usyk is expected to face former titleholder Anthony Joshua sometime early next year. The relatively small, but talented cruiserweight-turned-heavyweight stunned Joshua and the boxing world by winning a unanimous decision and three of the four major belts last month.

Fury could fight the winner of the Usyk-Joshua rematch for heavyweight supremacy but that could be a year from now. And, as we know, anything can happen in that time to prevent the fight from taking place at all.

We have no choice but to be patient and hope.

In the meantime, Fury has some worthy potential opponents for the spring. Dillian Whyte would be a compelling foe, particularly in the U.K. Maybe Fury fights there next.

I also like Andy Ruiz Jr. or Robert Helenius for Fury, if promotional rivalries can be overcome. Ruiz has his history with Joshua, which makes him a compelling story. And Helenius has now destroyed Adam Kownacki in consecutive fights, rejuvenating his career.

You can bet that Fury will give us a show both before and during his next fight, whomever the opponent is. And, of course, he almost certainly will continue to build his legacy by having his hand raised.

Then, if we’re lucky, it will be on to either Usyk or Joshua.

***

WORSE

One must feel for Wilder.

The man swore that we’d see a different fighter from the one who was stopped in seven rounds by Fury in February of last year. And we did. However, he ended up suffering the same fate. He has now lost back-to-back fights to his rival, which is a significant step backward in his career.

Of course, we understand the bitterness he surely is feeling right now.

We can only hope that he will come to understand the gift he gave us on Saturday. Wilder lost a fight but he gained untold admiration from those who saw the fight, which might not lead directly to another title shot but is precious nonetheless.

Few believed Wilder could give Fury much of a fight after the beating he took the last time. In the end, he turned a mismatch into an unforgettable war through sheer determination.

Wilder is known primarily as a puncher. And we knew he was tough, as he showed in his first fight with Luis Ortiz and in the final moments of his last fight with Fury. He wanted to continue. However, we didn’t know he was this kind of warrior, the kind who would risk it all to emerge victorious.

How many times in that fight did he appear to be on the precipice of demise only to somehow find more energy and battle back? I doubt I was alone when I thought during one of those moments, “My God, how is he doing this?”

Indeed, he would’ve gotten up from his third and final knockdown. He simply couldn’t, which referee Russell Mora recognized immediately. Wilder had given more than enough.

If a fighter can lose by an 11th-round knockout and emerge as a winner, Wilder is that fighter.

***

RABBIT PUNCHES

I was impressed with heavyweights Frank Sanchez and Jared Anderson, who won their fights on the Fury-Wilder undercard. Sanchez (19-0, 13 KOs) fairly easily outboxed Efe Ajagba (15-1, 12 KOs) en route to a unanimous decision. And Anderson (10-0, 10 KOs) stopped overmatched Vladimir Tereshkin (22-1-1, 12 KOs) in two rounds. Who’s most likely to win a heavyweight title? Tough one. Sanchez, a product of the Cuban amateur system, is an excellent boxer but doesn’t seem to have a warrior mentality. That could hinder him longterm. Anderson seems to be the complete package but he’s young, only 21. It’s too early to get a bead on him. I’ll be wishy washy: I won’t be surprised if both of them end up with a title one day. … Robert Helenius (31-3, 19 KOs) has brought his career as elite heavyweight back to life with back-to-back victories over Adam Kownacki (20-02, 15 KOs), including a beat down that ended by disqualification on the Fury-Wilder card. The 6-foot-6½ Finn seems to be better than ever 37, which might not be good news for other top heavyweights. This guy is a threat to anyone. …

Slugger Edgar Berlanga (18-0, 16 KOs) received a stiff test from Marcelo Coceres (30-3-1, 16 KOs), surviving a ninth-round knockdown to win a unanimous decision in a competitive fight on the Fury-Wilder card. Berlanga didn’t look like an elite fighter. It’s starting to look as if he won’t live up to the hype. … The biggest surprise on the Fury-Wilder card was former 154-pound titleholder Julian Williams’ split-decision loss to Vladimir Hernandez (13-4, 6 KOs). The Williams who defeated Jarrett Hurd by a unanimous decision to win his belts in 2019 probably would’ve found a way to beat the relentlessly aggressive, but limited Mexican. The current version of Williams (27-3-1, 16 KOs) couldn’t do that. Maybe it was an almost-21-month layoff and a spirited effort on Hernandez’s part. Maybe he’s just not the same fighter after his knockout loss to Jeison Rosario in January of last year. … Another winner on Saturday night was new trainer Malik Scott, Wilder’s trainer. He produced a different fighter from the one who was dominated by Fury last year. His took a significant step in his career as a mentor.

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Tyson Fury stops Deontay Wilder in gripping heavyweight war

Tyson Fury stopped Deontay Wilder in a gripping heavyweight war Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Tyson Fury walked away with another knockout victory over Deontay Wilder but they both stole our hearts.

Fury and Wilder engaged in one of the most electrifying heavyweight championship fights in recent memory, a war with an abundance of wild exchanges, five brutal knockdowns and a dramatic stoppage in the 11th round to close the show Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

It just doesn’t get much better than that.

Fury had to dig much deeper in this fight than the last one against Wilder, a seventh-round knockout in which Wilder was overwhelmed in February of last year. On Saturday, the Gypsy King went down twice and was hurt badly in Round 4, and took many more of his rival’s powerful right hands throughout the battle.

However, like the previous fight, Fury was the better man in the end. He overcame unusual punishment to wear Wilder down and finish him off at 1 minute, 10 seconds of Round 11 to retain the portion of the heavyweight championship he took from Wilder in the last fight and underscore the notion that’s he’s the best heavyweight in the world.

“As the great John Wayne said, I’m made of pig iron and steel, baby,” Fury yelled in the ring afterward.

For Wilder, it was a bitter defeat. He fought with the courage and determination that fans crave and many believed he couldn’t produce against Fury, which was particularly poignant given the manner in which he was beaten up in the previous fight.

The former champ seemed to be on the verge of getting knocked out for much of the bout but somehow managed to fight on until finally the flurry of shots that put him away — punctuated by one last right to the chin — made that impossible. Fans will never forget his effort.

Of course, that won’t mean much to him at the moment. He has now been knocked out by Fury in back-to-back fights after saying repeatedly that he has been rejuvenated under new trainer Malik Scott, which leaves his immediate future up in the air.

And remember: He salvaged a draw with Fury by putting him down in Rounds 9 and 12, a result that many observers thought was a gift to Wilder.

Where does Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs) go from here? The fans certainly will want to see him fight again after his effort on Saturday but he will have to beat a contender or two to get back into position to fight for a title again, if that’s what he wants. He’s 35.

Fury gave him a vote of confidence afterward.

“He put me down a couple of times. I was hurt,” Fury said. “He’s a strong puncher. And he’s a tough man. I was hitting him with some big shots. … It was a great fight tonight. It was worthy of any trilogy in the history of the sport.

“I’m not going to make any excuses. Wilder is a tough fighter. He gave me a real run for my money tonight. And I always said I’m the best in the world, and he’s the second best.”

Meanwhile, Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs) can move onto more massive heavyweight events. The question is who will he target?

His top two potential rivals, Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua, are expected to fight one another a second time after Usyk stunned the boxing world by outpointing Joshua to win three of the four major belts on Sept. 25.

Fury could face the winner of that fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship but that could be a year from now. He obviously won’t wait that long to fight again, particularly after waiting 19-plus months to fight Wilder a third time.

That means we could see Fury in the ring with the likes of Dillian Whyte or Andy Ruiz or Robert Helenius, who knocked out Adam Kownacki on the undercard Saturday.

For now, Fury will enjoy his epic victory with his team and family. He certainly earned it.

Then, in time, the king of the division will huddle with his advisors and take the next step in what is shaping up to be a career that will lead him into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. In fact, his performance on Saturday might’ve punched his ticket to Canastota, New York.

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Tyson Fury stops Deontay Wilder in gripping heavyweight war

Tyson Fury stopped Deontay Wilder in a gripping heavyweight war Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Tyson Fury walked away with another knockout victory over Deontay Wilder but they both stole our hearts.

Fury and Wilder engaged in one of the most electrifying heavyweight championship fights in recent memory, a war with an abundance of wild exchanges, five brutal knockdowns and a dramatic stoppage in the 11th round to close the show Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

It just doesn’t get much better than that.

Fury had to dig much deeper in this fight than the last one against Wilder, a seventh-round knockout in which Wilder was overwhelmed in February of last year. On Saturday, the Gypsy King went down twice and was hurt badly in Round 4, and took many more of his rival’s powerful right hands throughout the battle.

However, like the previous fight, Fury was the better man in the end. He overcame unusual punishment to wear Wilder down and finish him off at 1 minute, 10 seconds of Round 11 to retain the portion of the heavyweight championship he took from Wilder in the last fight and underscore the notion that’s he’s the best heavyweight in the world.

“As the great John Wayne said, I’m made of pig iron and steel, baby,” Fury yelled in the ring afterward.

For Wilder, it was a bitter defeat. He fought with the courage and determination that fans crave and many believed he couldn’t produce against Fury, which was particularly poignant given the manner in which he was beaten up in the previous fight.

The former champ seemed to be on the verge of getting knocked out for much of the bout but somehow managed to fight on until finally the flurry of shots that put him away — punctuated by one last right to the chin — made that impossible. Fans will never forget his effort.

Of course, that won’t mean much to him at the moment. He has now been knocked out by Fury in back-to-back fights after saying repeatedly that he has been rejuvenated under new trainer Malik Scott, which leaves his immediate future up in the air.

And remember: He salvaged a draw with Fury by putting him down in Rounds 9 and 12, a result that many observers thought was a gift to Wilder.

Where does Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs) go from here? The fans certainly will want to see him fight again after his effort on Saturday but he will have to beat a contender or two to get back into position to fight for a title again, if that’s what he wants. He’s 35.

Fury gave him a vote of confidence afterward.

“He put me down a couple of times. I was hurt,” Fury said. “He’s a strong puncher. And he’s a tough man. I was hitting him with some big shots. … It was a great fight tonight. It was worthy of any trilogy in the history of the sport.

“I’m not going to make any excuses. Wilder is a tough fighter. He gave me a real run for my money tonight. And I always said I’m the best in the world, and he’s the second best.”

Meanwhile, Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs) can move onto more massive heavyweight events. The question is who will he target?

His top two potential rivals, Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua, are expected to fight one another a second time after Usyk stunned the boxing world by outpointing Joshua to win three of the four major belts on Sept. 25.

Fury could face the winner of that fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship but that could be a year from now. He obviously won’t wait that long to fight again, particularly after waiting 19-plus months to fight Wilder a third time.

That means we could see Fury in the ring with the likes of Dillian Whyte or Andy Ruiz or Robert Helenius, who knocked out Adam Kownacki on the undercard Saturday.

For now, Fury will enjoy his epic victory with his team and family. He certainly earned it.

Then, in time, the king of the division will huddle with his advisors and take the next step in what is shaping up to be a career that will lead him into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. In fact, his performance on Saturday might’ve punched his ticket to Canastota, New York.

[lawrence-related id=24626,24618,24615,24610,24606]

Frank Sanchez outboxes, easily outpoints Efe Ajagba

Frank Sanchez outboxed Efe Ajagba to win a unanimous decision on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder card Saturday in Las Vegas.

Frank Sanchez took a significant step forward on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder card Saturday.

The well-schooled Cuban heavyweight outboxed fellow prospect Efe Ajagba to win a one-sided unanimous decision at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, a victory that should move him up the rankings.

Sanchez (19-0, 13) and Ajagba (15-1, 12 KOs) have a similar number of pro fights but the former had a vast amateur background in his native country, which made him an excellent boxer.

Sanchez didn’t land a tremendous number of punches but landed more and cleaner shots — many of them counters — and was an elusive target.

Ajagba will probably regret not throwing more punches in the fight. However, that might’ve been the result of Sanchez’s tactics. He just never gave Ajagba a good target.

Sanchez seemed to catch a break in Round 6, when he fell to a knee after taking a jab from Ajagba. It was ruled a slip.

And then, in Round 8, the winner had both his biggest and most bizarre moment. A hard right forced Ajagba to take a knee, at which time Sanchez landed a left hook.

Of course, it’s illegal to hit a man when he’s down. However, referee Mike Ortega took no action.

In the end, no one was surprised by the scoring. Sanchez won 98-91, 98-91 and 97-92. Boxing Junkie scored it 98-91 for Sanchez.

[lawrence-related id=24618,24615,24610,24606]

Frank Sanchez outboxes, easily outpoints Efe Ajagba

Frank Sanchez outboxed Efe Ajagba to win a unanimous decision on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder card Saturday in Las Vegas.

Frank Sanchez took a significant step forward on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder card Saturday.

The well-schooled Cuban heavyweight outboxed fellow prospect Efe Ajagba to win a one-sided unanimous decision at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, a victory that should move him up the rankings.

Sanchez (19-0, 13) and Ajagba (15-1, 12 KOs) have a similar number of pro fights but the former had a vast amateur background in his native country, which made him an excellent boxer.

Sanchez didn’t land a tremendous number of punches but landed more and cleaner shots — many of them counters — and was an elusive target.

Ajagba will probably regret not throwing more punches in the fight. However, that might’ve been the result of Sanchez’s tactics. He just never gave Ajagba a good target.

Sanchez seemed to catch a break in Round 6, when he fell to a knee after taking a jab from Ajagba. It was ruled a slip.

And then, in Round 8, the winner had both his biggest and most bizarre moment. A hard right forced Ajagba to take a knee, at which time Sanchez landed a left hook.

Of course, it’s illegal to hit a man when he’s down. However, referee Mike Ortega took no action.

In the end, no one was surprised by the scoring. Sanchez won 98-91, 98-91 and 97-92. Boxing Junkie scored it 98-91 for Sanchez.

[lawrence-related id=24618,24615,24610,24606]