Tyson Fury has accused his rival Dillian Whyte of cheating in their heavyweight title fight by using his elbows and head-butting him.
The 'Gypsy King' was given a hero's welcome as he made a UK homecoming in front of 94,000 at Wembley Stadium against challenger Whyte. Fury ended the contest with a sensational right uppercut to maintain his undefeated record with just one second until the midway point.
Fury compared Whyte's style throughout the fight to his previous meeting with Wladimir Klitschko, but admitted it would be no match for a formidable opponent. “He tried to make it rough, fair play to him, he was trying to man handle me in there," Fury said after the fight. “Have you ever tried to wrestle with a dinosaur? I’m like a T-rex in there. I’m 6ft 9, 270lbs. It’s difficult.
“He tried hitting me with elbows, head, he tried nutting me, done a Wladimir Klitschko on me. He was trying everything. He was using forearms, trying to elbow me. When you try and cheat in a fight, you always come up second best. He went to nut me and got cut. He didn’t fight a world champion tonight, I ain’t no world champion. I’m a legend in this game. You can’t deny it I’m the best heavyweight there’s ever been.”
The fight became scrappy at times during the early stages with Whyte struggling throughout to close the significant distance imposed by the champion's sizeable six feet nine inch frame. Fury hurt his opponent on multiple occasions as he continued to outclass the challenger before making his breakthrough just before the midway point.
Fury detonated a well-timed uppercut which sent Whyte to the canvas in a dazed confusion, before he stumbled desperately towards the referee after managing to clamber to his feet. Official Mark Lyson halted the punishment for Whyte who was unable to make any serious dent in the 'Gypsy King's' title credentials after a 1700 day wait for a world-title opportunity.
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After a superb occasion concluded at Wembley, both fighters future hung with uncertainty with Whyte now facing being frozen out of the title picture after failing to make a mark during his challenge. Fury also confirmed his plans to retire after the fight. "I promised my lovely wife Paris that after the third fight with Deontay Wilder that would be it and I meant it," Fury said after the fight.
"I then got offered to fight at Wembley and I thought I owed it to the fans, to every person in the United Kingdom, to come here and fight. Now it's all done I have to be a man of my word. I think this is it, it might be the final curtain for The Gypsy King and what a way to go out!"
Fury later opted to backtrack on claims he could seek new challenges away from the ring by calling out UFC star Francis Ngannou to a fight after the Cameroon star entered the ring.
