Heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury returned to the ring Saturday to defend his WBC title against fellow countryman Dillian Whyte. It was the fifth time in heavyweight history a title fight featured two boxers from England, per ESPN Stats & Information research. The champion also retained his belt in the previous four instances.
It was the first time Fury fought someone other than Deontay Wilder since September 2019. For Whtye, it was his long-awaited shot at a title; it took over 1,500 days for him to get this opportunity. Wembley Stadium was the location for the fight, the second time the venue featured two English boxers in a championship bout.
Ahead of the action, former WWE wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson wished both fighters good luck on social media. Fury, the No. 1-ranked heavyweight boxer, weighed in at 264.8 pounds on Friday. Whyte, who is ranked sixth in the division, came in at 253.25 pounds.
.@TheRock delivers a special message to @Tyson_Fury before Saturday night. #FuryWhyte pic.twitter.com/ZXg5V3npLM
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) April 20, 2022
The fight was entertaining through six rounds, but it went no further. Fury defeated Whyte with an uppercut in the round. It was Fury’s 33rd career win, second most without a loss by a British heavyweight champion. Afterward, Fury made it seem like it was the final one of his career.
“I promised my wife after the Wilder trilogy that would be it. Then I got offered to fight at Wembley. I owed it to all the fans in the United Kingdom. I think this is it. This might be the final curtain for the Gypsy King,” Fury said in the postfight interview.
Tyson Fury hints at possibly hanging up the gloves 🥊 #FuryWhyte pic.twitter.com/dHzU7IeD3j
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 23, 2022
Shortly after that announcement, however, Fury hinted at a potential hybrid fight with UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
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Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou both tease a potential crossover fight between the two in the future.
Sports stars across social media offered their thoughts on the action-packed championship fight:
I never seen nothing like Tyson Fury before he is amazing
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) April 23, 2022
A great showing by @Tyson_Fury tonight. It emphatically keeps him as the man to beat. He’s already in a very exclusive club in boxing, but I look forward to welcoming him to the #undisputed club. Let’s get it done! 👊🏾💥💪🏾 #BTSportBoxing
— Lennox Lewis, CBE, CM (@LennoxLewis) April 23, 2022
Tyson Fury easily ranks among the greatest heavyweights of all time …🤷🏽♂️ #FuryWhyte
— Nico Ali Walsh (@NicoAliX74) April 23, 2022
What an uppercut! The Gypsy King doesn’t mess around. Light work! 👑 #FuryWhyte
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) April 23, 2022
A KO punctuates @Tyson_Fury‘s absolutely DOMINANT career. Congratulations on tonight’s win. Unstoppable!!!! #FuryWhyte
— Triple H (@TripleH) April 23, 2022
Tyson Fury is the real deal.
— Danny ‘Swift’ Garcia (@DannySwift) April 23, 2022
Perfect choice of proper punch by Fury. Set up perfectly #FuryWhyte
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) April 23, 2022
“
Aye Tyson that dude 😮💨
— Najee Harris (@ohthatsNajee22) April 23, 2022
In 4oz gloves that uppercut from Fury would have resembled Ngannou’s uppercut against Ubereem 😳
Fury is a GOAT— Jeff Molina (@jmolina_125) April 23, 2022
Man Gypsy King won before he even got in the ring.. Intro🔥🔥🔥
— Charles Woodson (@CharlesWoodson) April 23, 2022
It’s over! What a shot! What a drop! Omg! Congratulations Fury! @trboxing @espn #FuryWhyte
— Rosie Perez (@rosieperezbklyn) April 23, 2022
When the aliens come to Earth & ask who our baddest boxer is we will have to show them Tyson Fury… Sure they’ll get a good chuckle out of that. Dude got hand though.
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) April 23, 2022
Source: www.espn.com