THERE was a point, during his epic victory over Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas on Saturday, when you might have been wondering if Tyson Fury could do it. If he could get dropped by such a fearsome puncher and persevere. Well, it happened twice. In the fourth round Wilder had sent Fury crashing to the canvas. Yet each time he rose. He went on in the fight and ultimately prevailed, putting Wilder down three times overall and knocking him out in the 11th round.
Fury didn’t think of much when he did hit the deck. โNot a great deal [went through his mind],โ Fury said. โYou go swimming and youโre going to get wet. You mess with fire long enough, you get burned. Iโve had three fights with the biggest puncher in the history of my sport, in my division and he caught me. He caught me twice in the fourth round but I was never thinking, โOh this is over.โ I was thinking okay good shot. Iโll get you back in a minute and I did.
โI was always there. He shook me, he put me down and thatโs boxing. Itโs life as well. Itโs not about how many times you get put down or how many times you lose. Itโs about how many times you can lose and keep getting back up and keep moving forward, like Rocky said. Youโve got to keep moving forward in a positive manner and keep fighting. Not just in the boxing but in life in general. Because nothingโs going to be easy. If you want something thatโs very hard to get youโve got to sacrifice and dedicate and keep pushing no matter what and never let anybody tell you, you canโt. Because tonight again, time and time again, I showed you itโs very possible to achieve anything you ever want as long as you believe it in here.โ
โI donโt make excuses. Iโm as fit as a fiddle, Iโm as strong as an ox so it was what it was and now Iโm going to go home and regroup and spend some well-earned time with my kids and my wife,โ he concluded. โIt was edge of the seat stuff, could have swung either way. When it comes down it, when I have to pull the chips out, every time Iโve delivered.
โIโve never let anyone down, I always give it my all 100% of the time. I came into this fight thinking you can only do your best in life, whateverโs destined, whateverโs written in the stars for you will be. I dedicated my life and I got the victory tonight.โ