Tyson Fury survived a Mexican bloodbath in Las Vegas to remain on course for a blockbuster rematch with Deontay Wilder.
The undefeated Gypsy King sustained a horror cut in the third round of this clash with Otto Wallin which knocked him out of his stride. But Fury showed every ounce of metal to battle his way to a unanimous decision with the three ringside judges returning cards of 116-112, 117-111 and 118-110.
After the fight Fury was rushed to hospital for surgery on his cuts – as his dad fears for his career. He even managed to come close to stopping the previously undefeated Swede but had to hold on himself when he was rocked in the final round. Fury had spoken in the week of his desire to retire to Morecambe Bay and eat jam sandwiches but by the end of the night – that’s exactly what his right eyebrow resembled.
However he did not let it spoil the party and he can now march on to bigger and better – and hopefully less gory – nights. Although first he must go to hospital after being rushed there after the fight.
Just 13 weeks after Fury marked his Las Vegas debut by crushing Tom Schwarz inside two rounds at the MGM Grand, he was back on the Strip. This time it was another little-known European heavyweight in his way with Wallin chosen as dance partner across the road at the T-Mobile Arena.
Fury, 31, knew that any slip-up here would stick a knife in plans for him to lock horns with Wilder in their long-awaited rematch signed for February 22. The pair served up a memorable draw in Los Angeles in December when Tyson Fury climbed off the canvas twice but still thought he won the fight.
The two heavyweights could clash twice during 2020 but Fury made a point of not discussing the Bronze Bomber during this fight week insisting he was only focused on former prison officer Wallin. The Swede, who was beaten twice by Anthony Joshua in the amateurs, was given a 12/1 chance of pulling off an upset by the bookies here in Sin City.
Wallin said he was determined to pull off a shock in memory of his late father who died suddenly after a heart attack on May 22. As such, this was the first time in his career that dad Carl had not been ringside.
Fury reckoned the 6ft 6ins Scandinavian would attempt to get up on his toes and move around. Perhaps in response to that, the former WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight king came in at his lightest weight (254.4lbs) since he beat Wladimir Klitschko in 2015. After dressing up as Apollo Creed and walking out to James Brown’s Living in America three months ago, this time his entrance had a Mexican flavour.
Wearing a huge sombrero, the newly crowned El Rey Gitanos – or Gypsy King – rolled in on a carnival float accompanied by a Mariachi band. Considering how quickly he disposed of Schwarz, he made a much slower start this time around and it was the small, noisy pocket of Wallin fans who had most to cheer about in the opening two rounds.
Fury suffered the cut on his right eyebrow during the third and he spent most of the fourth pawing at the wound and attempting to shake blood from his eye. It was clearly affecting the Big Man’s rhythm which only served to give Wallin confidence. The Swede was targeting the cut whenever the pair locked up in a clinch. It also meant Wallin was having success with the straight left hand thrown from the southpaw stance.
There were groans in the sixth when referee Tony Weeks instructed the doctor to inspect the cut – but the bloodied Gypsy King was allowed to continue. Fury emerged for the seventh with a point to prove and nearly closed the show with a stiff right hand but undefeated Wallin was made of stern stuff. Sensing the seriousness of his cut, Fury put his foot down over the next two rounds, and nearly had Wallin out of there in the ninth only for the bell to stop the onslaught.
The Swede was badly wilting and just doing his best to survive while offering little by way of attack as Fury poured forward. But he landed his best shot of the fight out of nowhere in the 12th when he drive a left cross onto Fury’s cut eye. The Gypsy King, for once, was hanging on. Wallin, however, was unable to secure a dramatic late stoppage and Fury held on for a wide unanimous decision.
Photo Credit: Getty
