By Gabriel Princewill-
Tyson Fury is celebrating winning two awards from The Ring Magazine following his scintillating victory over Deontay Wilder in their action packed trilogy in October.
Britain’s no 1 heavyweight won the ‘Fight of the Year’ and ‘Round of the Year’ awards from The Ring Magazine after he successfully defended his WBC title with an emphatic stoppage of big punching Wilder in the 11th round last October.
It was an eventful affair that saw both combatants give it their all in a fervent pursuit of victory, leading to Fury climbing off the canvas twice in the fourth round, affirming his remarkable level of resilience en route to an 11th round in Las Vegas.
Wilder deserved so much credit himself for putting up such an epic show, putting everything on the line in pursuit of victory. No other heavyweight today would have successfully withstood the ferocity with which the Alabama man earnestly pursued a glorious outcome to no eventual avail on that dramatic night.
Fury has been dubbed the terminator, by boxing fans, who are more than impressed with his extraordinary recuperating powers that makes him seem unbeatable.
Tyson Fury has been floored five times in his entire career but has beaten the count each time to produce a remarkable win. The gypsy king who was rarely tipped for any level of greatness on his way up has shut the naysayers up, and now sits head and shoulders above all in the heavyweight division.
He said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic and overwhelmed to be recognized by Ring Magazine yet again,” said Fury when accepting the ‘Fight of the Year’ award.
“That’s more awards to add to the collection and more plaques to put on the wall. I’m absolutely delighted, and I’d like to give a big shout out to Deontay Wilder because I needed a dance partner in order to win this award.
“It was a tough old three minutes,” said Fury about his ‘Round of the Year’ award.
“When you’re sparring in the gym, you’re not getting dropped like that, then bang, all of a sudden you’re in a fight where there’s three knockdowns in two rounds.
“It was crazy! That’s the first time I’ve been dropped twice in one round. Everybody thought it was over but not me. I always knew I was going to get up and win the fight.”
Responding to the appreciation of a great fight, he said: “It was a great fight, but not so great for me and Deontay, because fights like that knock years off your life,” said Fury, who retained the Ring and WBC titles. “But it was an epic battle and a great trilogy. It was definitely all worth it. There was a lot of talk that it was one of the best heavyweight fights in recent years, and it was a great thing to be a part of.
The gypsy king’s first fight against Wilder, which ended in a split decision draw, earned him the ‘Round of the Year’ award in 2018.
Fury Stops Wilder after after a tough night of action Image:Getty Images
The unbeaten family man was originally scheduled to fight Anthony Joshua, but the manner of the Londoner’s comprehensive points defeat in the hands of Oleg Usyk in September, confirmed that Joshua was not ready to share a ring with Tyson Fury yet.
Although the boxing world was partly divided on who would emerge victorious between Fury and Joshua, a number of experts had said the clash was premature for Joshua who needed a few more fights before meeting a rounded fighter like Tyson Fury.
Joshua will first have to prove himself by avenging his defeat, if that extra experience will even be enough for him to compete well against Fury.
Fury has now been mandated to defend his belt against Dillian Whyte, but may skip that due to politics surrounding purse bids.
There are talks of matching him with Andy Ruiz Jnr who became the first person to defeat Anthony Joshua, losing on points in their rematch.
It will be best for Fury to do what most notable champions have done in history, which is defend the belt against all mandatories, to continue to prove he is the best until he calls it a day.
The gypsy king can look back on a great year with pride, and look foreward to the year ahead with bigger expectations.