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When Gladiators Collide:
Multiple Knockdowns In Fury vs. Wilder III
By William Trillo
Photos: Mikey Williams - Top Rank
Heavyweight Tyson Fury (31-0-1, 22 KO’s) put an
exclamation point on everything he has been telling
Deontay Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KO’s) leading up to their
epic third battle. Like two gladiators squaring off in a
Roman Colosseum the two behemoths locked horns in a bout
that saw both men kiss the canvas multiple times. It was
high drama in Las Vegas and the blood thirsty crowd
loved every moment.
For what it’s worth, whatever Malik Scott was supposed
to do to help sharpen Wilders skills went all for
naught. In fact, Wilder looked technically worse than
ever. Clumsy, awkward, winging punches that hit nothing
but air couldn’t be a part of Malik’s schooling…could
it. But much to Wilders credit, he did show he has some
pretty big juevos, as my report will suggest.
To the fight, it wasn’t long before Wilder got an up
close and personal look at the canvas. Before the third
round would conclude Fury sent Wilder to the deck with
an alarming thud.
But wait! Not to be outdone Wilder somehow recuperated
and in the next round he sent Fury down not once but
twice! The 15,820 fans in the T-Mobile Arena were going
crazy. Somehow Fury was able to get to his feet and
survive the onslaught.
From this point on it was balls to the wall action as
only the big boys can bring. Throwing all boxing skills
out the window the men stood toe to toe for the next
seven rounds. Huge bombs landed by both men but as the
war of attrition ensued you could sense that Wilder was
slowly crumbling. Before the start of round ten the
doctor came out to look at Wilder but gave him the
approval to fight on.
One round later, in round eleven Fury had Wilder reeling
and with one thunderous overhand right. Wilder bounced
on the ropes then face first into the mat. There was no
reason to count, Wilder was finished. End of story.
Officially the bout came to a grinding halt at the 1:10
mark of round 11. With the victory Fury retains his WBC
World Heavyweight Title.
After the fight the champ announced, "I give him the
glory for the victory. He’s a tough man. He took some
big shots tonight. It was a great fight, as good as any
trilogy in history. I beat him three times and I’m a
sportsman and wanted to give him some love and respect.
And he didn’t want to give it back. That's his problem
and I pray for him. This was a great fight and October
9, 2021 will go down in history, I hope. I Always said I
was the best in the world and he was the second best.
Don’t ever doubt me. When the chips are down, I will
always deliver.”
On his performance Wilder said, “I did my best, but it
wasn’t good enough tonight. I’m not sure what happened.
I know that in training he did certain things, and I
also knew that he didn’t come in at 277 pounds to be a
ballet dancer. He came to lean on me, try to rough me up
and he succeeded.”
NOTE: As a precaution, Deontay Wilder was taken to
University Medical Center for evaluation.
Heavyweight Robert Helenius (31-3, 19 KO’s) outclassed
and out-handled Adam Kownacki (20-2, 15 KO’s) in this
lopsided battle. Helenius battered his foe from pillar
to post until the fight was stopped by the ref who had
seen enough of the low blow affair. Officially the fight
was topped at the 2:38 mark of round 6.
On the awkward Kownacki Helenius said, "I expected it
because, what does he have? Don’t get me wrong, he’s a
good brawler, but I’ve been fighting brawlers for 20
years. I know how to deal with them, even if they are
hitting me low or behind the head. That doesn’t bother
me."
In a battle of unbeaten Heavyweights Efe Ajagba (15-1,
12 KO’s) and Frank Sanchez (19-0, 13 KO’s) put it on the
line for the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title
& WBO NABO Heavyweight Titles. Sanchez used superior
boxing skill to keep a surprised Ajagba uneasy
throughout the entire fight. Adding insult to injury
Sanchez dropped Efe with a wicked combo in round seven.
There was no doubt in this one as the judges all saw
Ajagba ahead 97-92 and 98-91 twice.
On his win Sanchez stated, "I knew I was going to win
all the rounds because I’m much better than him
technically. I knew that if I connected, he would fall
and he did fall. My gameplan was always to frustrate him
and go in for the attack."
Super Middleweights Edgar Berlanga (18-0, 16 KO’s) and
Marcelo Esteban Coceres (30-3-1, 16 KO’s) literally went
to war in this 168 pound slugfest that had the vacant
WBO NABO Super Middleweight Title weighing in the
balance. Berlanga came in as the highly touted KO artist
but make no mistake about it, Coceres made his power
felt as well.
By the mid-rounds Berlanga all but shut the eye of
Coceres with his power punches. But in round nine
Coceres dropped Berlanga with a hard right hand. The
stunned Boricuan rose to his feet and finished the
round. The fight went the ten round distance and all
three judges saw the same outcome, 96-93 all in favor of
the still undefeated Berlanga.
Super Welterweight Julian Williams (27-3-1, 16 KO’s)
opened a vicious cut over the eye Vladimir Hernandez
(13-4, 6 KO’s) in the early goings but that was not
enough to keep the tough Mexican at bay. Not taking a
backward step Hernandez imposed his will on Williams. It
was close but in the end the judges gave the split
decision nod to Hernandez. Scores read 96-94 Williams,
96-94 Hernandez while the final score read 97-93 in
favor of the winner Hernandez.
Heavyweight Jared Anderson (10-0, 10 KO’s) made Vladimir
Tereshkin (22-1-1, 12 KO’s) look like a Ham-n-Egger in
this two-round demolishing. Tereshkin looked like he was
switching from orthodox to southpaw immediately, or
could it have been he had not a lick of boxing skill and
was just a big clumsy oaf? Whatever the case may be
Anderson remained undefeated when the bout was brought
to a merciful end at the 2:51 mark of round two.
After the fight Anderson noted, “I was a little anxious
in the opening round. My first pay-per-view card and all
that. But I settled in and gave a great performance. I
practiced what my coaches preached. On to the next one.”
Heavyweight Viktor Vykhryst (8-0, 6 KO’s) KO’s Mike
Marshall (6-2-1, 4 KO’s) at the 1:49 mark of the third
round.
Featherweight Bruce Carrington is victorious in his pro
debut taking a unanimous decision Cesar Cantu (3-2, 1
KO). Final score read 40-36 across the board.
Featherweight Robeisy Ramirez (8-1, 4 KO’s) takes a
clear unanimous decision over Orlando Gonzalez Ruiz
(17-1, 10 KO’s). Judges tallies all in favor of Ramirez
read 97 -93 and 99-91 twice.
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