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#OnThisDay in 2015 @Tyson_Fury dominated and humiliated Klitschko to become the new lineal champ. The fight was one of the most impeccable heavyweight performances in decades, and was absolutely spectacular to watch (for people who don't know shit about boxing, it was "boring")
The rivalry between the two started in 2010 when Fury visited Klitschko's training camp. Klitschko was pissed that Fury was able to last longer in a sauna, and Klitschko's coach even called Fury "the next dominant heavyweight champion" and "the heir to Klitschko's throne."
In 2015, Fury wasn't really rated great. Aside from Chisora and the cruiserweight Cunningham who knocked him down, he hasn't fought class opposition. Klitschko on the other hand was a champ reigning for almost 10 years, his last 2 victories over class opponents Jennings & Pulev
Mind games & psychological warfare started long before the fight. Fury arrived at a press conference in a lambo, wearing a batman suit, and turned the event into a one man show, with Klitschko sitting shy & disoriented. Fury calling Klitschko a devil worshipper also made the news
Klitschko also tried some tricks. Fury was advised by many people to not eat or drink anything they didn't personally buy at a store while in Dusseldorf, and hrs before the fight Fury's team found an extra layer of foam in the canvas, intended to disadvantage the more mobile Fury
In general, Fury dominated the pre-fight build up with his charisma and mind games. Klitschko didn't look confident at all, but at the time most people were still thinking Fury is just bluffing. Very soon the world of boxing was about to find out that he indeed meant business.
Perhaps the walk out songs used by the two fighters were symbolic. Fury was a knight about to slay an ancient dragon, and walked out to "I'm Gonna Have a Little Talk with Jesus". Klitschko, up for another defence in a commmercially successful career, chose Red Hot Chili Peppers
Klitschko looked as if he wanted to start aggressively, but he was immediately discouraged by Fury's unhinged, chaotic feints, constant head movement & impeccable footwork. In the 1st rd Klitschko was already confused, as confident Fury tried "look ma, no hands" for the 1st time
The 1st round epitomized the entire fight: Fury a complete vanishing point, Klitschko unable to touch him. The strategy devised by @peterfury was absolutely neutralizing all of the Klitschko's weapons from the very beginning
One of the reasons why Klitschko reigned for so long was that if things didn't go his way, he could always rely on clinch. With Fury, he was up against a bigger man with great static strength. Unable to adapt, Klitschko kept initiating clinches even though Fury dominated them
2nd round proved Klitschko's painful passivity and inability to adapt. Meanwhile Fury showed that he can do what Klitschko can't: aggressively cut distance and move forward. While in clinch, Fury was talking to Klitschko to mess with him, and even slapped his ass to humiliate him
In 3rd round Fury was already completely relaxed. He switched to southpaw and kept his hands all the way down, toying with Klitschko and laughing
Encouraged by his brother Vladimir in the corner, starting with 4th round Klitschko tries to be more aggressive, but as he initiates all his attacks with either a double jab or a leaping left hook, he is easy to read. As Klitschko pushes forward, Fury begins to counter him often
Although Fury vs Klitschko is not a fight renown for its brutality, Klitschko was getting hit with solid hits as attested by multiple stitches on his face at the post fight conference. The first cut, under his left eye, opened in 4th round
Klitschko was always a very schematic out-boxer: set up the opponent with jabs, and send him to sleep with a massive right hand. Fury not only employed genius head movement, footwork & feints, but also had a 10cm reach advantage, which was very visibile in the fight
The most iconic photo from the fight comes from the 6th round: one of the several instances when Fury provoked Klitschko and flaunted his dominance by putting hands behind his back
Over the course of the fight, feints were Fury's most dangerous weapon. Look at Klitschko's body language here: Fury's feints not only distract him but startle him out and make him back off. "All warfare is based on deception".
Fury was great at constantly using his hands to distract Klitschko
Round 9 seen Klitschko in trouble when he ate a big left hook after he lost focus and turned his back to Fury even though the referee didn't give the command to break
When a big puncher fights an elusive, defensive fighter, he always believes that sooner or later he will be able to land something big. But Fury wasn't tiring, his defenses as slick in round 11 as in round 1
Klitschko was getting increasingly frustrated and he started to realize he's losing the fight. In round 11, he decided to try his luck at some lethwei and gave us this beautiful example of sportsmanship
Although Fury utterly schooled and dominated Klitschko in every round, the fight was taking place in ukrainian's backyard. After the final bell, Fury was heard praying: "In the name of Jesus, don't rob me in this country". Jesus listened. History was made
...and after the historic fight, one of the most iconic moments in the history of boxing took place:
