Thrilled former trainer Ben Davison was adamant after Tyson Fury had battered WBC heavyweight champion Deontray Wilder into submission Sunday.
“It’s (Fury’s sensational return) is the best story in boxing history,” he told The Athletic.
The ‘Gypsy King’ once again became WBC heavyweight champion of the world with his devastating 7th-round TKO of Wilder in Las Vegas.
It marks the culmination of a sensational climb back to the top for Fury. The 31-year-old 6ft 9in giant, who had a 45 lb weight advantage in the fight, is coming back from a dark abyss.
He has spoken openly about his battles with depression and cocaine use after he dethroned Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015. That victory earned him the WBA, WBO and IBF World title belts which he had to relinquish
“It’s the best story in boxing history,” Davison enthused. “I’m over the moon.
“It couldn’t happen to a better man. I wanted to see him do it. Not being able to be there and not working, I get very anxious. Tyson made it a lot easier for me by fighting the way he did.”
Davidson played major role in Fury’s rehabilitation
Davidson played a major role helping the English-born son of ‘Irish Travellers’ to shed wait and rehabilitate himself. It was therefore a shock to many when Fury dropped Davidson just two months prior to Sunday’s fight
This second battle between Fury and Wilder two took place all of 14 months after their contentious, 1st fight draw. And one the biggest surprises was Fury’s aggressive approach, both before and during the fight.
Speaking afterwards, Fury praised the work done by Davison. He did say, however, that he felt he had he proven a point by using a different game plan. It was executed under the tutelage of Javan ‘SugarHill’ Steward and Andy Lee.
Davison himself felt Fury showed elements of all the trainers he has worked with throughout his career and that the unbeaten champion had proved himself to be one of the all-time greats.
“From working with him, I obviously know Tyson’s a versatile fighter,” Davison added.
“But for him to be able to be that versatile really did surprise me. I didn’t think it would end by stoppage, or be as emphatic as that. It shocked me in complete honesty, and I’m sure Tyson shocked himself.
“The credit must go to the fighter”
“A lot of people played their part in helping him get back to where he’s got to. I’ve always said the credit always has to go to the fighter. Now, he will always be named as one of the all-time heavyweights.
“What I saw was that he’s worked with his uncle Hughie, then his uncle Peter, then with myself, and now ‘SugarHill’ and Andy.
“He’s taken a little bit from everybody, with Andy and ‘Sugar’ putting together the final pieces of the puzzle for this fight. They’ve done a fantastic job.
“That was the difference: That Tyson’s collected that information, and had those experiences – seeing lots of different people and using all of what he’s gained from everybody to put it into play tonight.”
After the disappointment of getting no more than a drawn decision in their first fight, Fury said he would take the fight out of the judges’ hands when they fought again.
And he did just that. From the word go and all the way until the fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena ended with a TKO in the 7th round
Fury never in trouble in one-sided battle
In a one-sided battle when he never looked in trouble, Fury, the defensive boxer of old, dramatically transformed into a brutal puncher. It saw him get a pair of knockdowns. Then it saw and Wilder bleeding from an ear and looking wobbly on his feet. Finally in the 7th round when Wilder was being pounded in a corner, his corner threw in the towel.
In adopting his new, aggressive role, Fury (31-1-0, 21 KOS) had to fearlessly attacked a man (42-1-1, 41 KOs), seen by many as the biggest puncher in the sport’s history. Fury did more than that. He exposed the Bronze Bombers’ limited technical ability.
“The king has returned,” Fury said in front of the cheering crowd. “I just want to say a big shout out to Deontay Wilder. He came here tonight, he manned up and he showed the heart of a champion. He is a warrior, he will be back and he will be a champion again.”
“Things like this happen. The best man won,” was Wilder’s post-match comment. “My coach threw in the towel when I was ready to go out on my shield. I make no excuses tonight. I just wish that my corner would’ve let me go out on my shield. I’m a warrior.
“This is what big-time boxing is all about. The best must fight the best,” Wilder said. “Even the greatest have lost and came back. I have no excuses tonight and we will come back even stronger next time.”
Where Fury goes from here is uncertain. Before Sunday’s fight he claimed he is next contracted to a third fight with Wilder. The call, though, is for him to take on fellow Brit Anthony Joshua, the current owner of the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles. Their clash would therefore be for the undisputed championship of the world.
All the results on the Fury-Wilder card
Tyson Fury beat Deontay Wilder via a seventh-round TKO (corner stoppage)
Charles Martin beat Gerald Washington via sixth-round knockout
Emanuel Navarrete beat Jeo Santisima via an 11th-round TKO
Sebastian Fundora beat Daniel Lewis via unanimous decision (97-93, 98-92, 99-91)
Tyson Fury has ‘the best story in boxing history’ says thrilled ex-trainer Davison
Ben Davison was anxious watching Tyson Fury but says his beating of Deontay Wilder proves he is one of the all-time greats.
How many heavyweights have held
WBC
WBO
WBA
IBF
IBO
Ring MagazineTitles in history??
— Ben Davison (@BenDavison_) February 23, 2020