Manila Standard Digital
By Ponciano “John” Melo Jr.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Tyson Fury wanted to paint the town red. He did.
Along with the mat, his Mexico flag-inspired shorts, his face was a bloody mess, but that did not stop Fury from putting on a show worthy of his nod to the Mexican boxing culture.
Fury is still the Lineal Heavyweight Champion after a unanimous decision victory over unheralded Otto Wallin who gave the British fighter the war he wanted.
Scoring a 12-round UD win, the scorecards read 116-112, 117-111, 118-110 all in favor of Fury who sustained an ugly cut early in the fight but dug deep and dominated the back half of the Top Rank main event at the T-Mobile Arena during Mexican Independence weekend.
Fury, renaming himself “El Rey de Los Gitanos” for the traditional Mexican boxing weekend, improves to 29-0-1 while his Swedish foe “All In” Wallin relinquishes his undefeated record to go 20-1.
But amid the result, Wallin gave his all to the Gypsy King, connecting on a left hook early in the fight that opened a huge cut on the right brow of the defending champion.
“Big congrats to Otto. His late father would be very proud of him. But I’m a gypsy warrior, and this is Mexican independence day,” said Fury after the fight.
Even after a deliberate foul by the Swede, gouging on the gash of Fury before the fifth round ended, Fury was still all praise for his younger foe.
“He was tough, and it was all about blood, gut, and heart in this fight. He kept coming, he didn’t know how to lose. Otto was all in today,” he added as Fury controlled every round after the sixth as his opponent got winded late.
“I did everything I could. I tried my best. Tyson is a great champ. But this match tells me that nobody can question my heart and that I’m a great fighter,” said Wallin who looked like he would complete the turnaround after some big shots in the final round but Fury withstood the Swede’s last hurrah.
Punch stats revealed that although Wallin was the more efficient fighter, Fury was able to capitalize on volume punching to show the judges that even with an obvious bad cut, it was the Swede reduced to a huffing and puffing shell.
Wallin connected for 38% of his total punches on 334 thrown, but Fury threw 651 shots for a 27% accuracy rate, landing 179 versus Wallin’s 127.
Fury also landed more power punches even if Wallin connected half of all of his. Fury threw 362 for a 35% clip while Wallin only had 89 connections from 169 power punches thrown.
In a post-fight interview Fury made clear his next intentions.
“Deontay Wilder, I want you next,” Fury said. “This fight puts me in good condition for the big boy. I want you next, you bum.”
Fury and Wilder are set for another gigantic heavyweight clash early in 2020.