Tyson Fury enters the ring in a sombrero and Mexican robe to a traditional Mexican song, on Mexican Independence Day to face undefeated Otto Wallin in a matchup roughly as serious as his last fight with Tom Schwarz. But since he's our top-ranked Heavyweight, we'll cover this one start to finish. Otto Wallin is #59, and has but one significant win. This one would be much more significant.
Round-by-round scoring follows:
- Round 1: Good jabs from Fury at a distance. Fury keeping distance, starting slow, Wallin lunges for the body. Pushes Wallin's face to keep distance. Wallin lunging to get to him. Wallin works his way inside, clinch follows. Not much action, but Fury's jabs probably win him the round. Fury 10-9
- Round 2: Wallin looking confident, moving in on him as Fury stays outside. Fury dodges a series of punches, backing up. Wallin goes to body, Fury returns with jab. Again to the body of Fury. Fury swings wildly and misses, as does Wallin, who pins Fury to the ropes, gets in some shots, but Fury fires back effectively! They exchange at end of round, too. Fury got in 2 best shots of the round, but it was pretty even 10-10. Fury 20-19.
- Round 3: Fury now actively trying to keep Wallin off with stiff jabs and one-twos, but Wallin is undeterred. Fury looking very serious now. Now Fury is stalking Wallin instead. Low punch by Wallin, gets mention from ref. Fury misses with big punch. Fury is cut from something. Fast-paced round but not much connected, but apparently a Wallin left caused the cut. Fury 10-9; 30-28.
- Round 4: Fury holding off Wallin early again. Fury is mad about something, maybe another low blow? as ref separately them. Speculation about the cut ending the fight and Fury needing urgency. He's staying outside more again. Fury rubbing the cut eyebrow. Fury jumps in leading with punch, clinches. Neither fighter has his rhythm on offense. 10-10 Fury 40-38.
- Round 5: Sounds like Fury's corner thinks it was from a headbutt, so they don't think he has to worry about it, interesting. Good jabs from Fury, Wallin responding but mostly short. Wallin jumps in, then big punch from Fury. Now they're telling Fury's corner it was from a punch. Tie-up, and the fight is getting into dirty boxing, good left from Wallin. Good short jab from Fury. No one's round really, but Wallin can't claim it either. 10-10 Fury 50-48.
- Round 6: Wallin really trying to make it a brawl. Fury loops a left and misses, and Wallin takes advantage; Wallin is gaining confidence. Wallin jumps right in after a break and scores. Wallin's work-rate is a lot higher this round and he keeps coming. Fury's cut is bleeding badly, and the doctor is looking at it. Fury has great urgency after doctor restarts fight. Fury ducking down and both fighters using uppercuts. Wallin poked at the cut deliberately at the end of the round...should have been penalized then. But he probably won that round. Wallin 10-9; Fury 59-58.
- Round 7: Fury clubbing and swinging, trying to get a knockout. Big right from Fury but Wallin is unfazed. Another big punch from Fury. Inside work from Fury. Good counter from Wallin, but Fury keeps coming, bullying him. Fury 10-9; 69-67.
- Round 8: Fury jabbing outside again. Wallin targeting the eye and Fury leaning in close helps him. Big right from Fury from close in. Wallin hanging on, looking tired but not fatigued, returns with a few good shots. Two are almost wrestling against ropes. Great uppercut from low stance, good bodywork too. Fury 10-9; 79-76.
- Round 9: Fury resumes attack with urgency. Wallin looks none the worse for wear though, still full of fight. Wallin's trainer yelling for him to "hit that cut!" Wallin uppercuts the cut several times. Fury still ducking low to let him do it. Fury moves in an attacks again. HUGE uppercut misses from Fury. Fury gives him 1-2 1-2, Wallin says bring it on. Fury closes with huge punch but round ends. Fury 10-9; 89-85.
- Round 10: Fury backs Wallin to ropes and batters him, Wallin somehow survives intact. Wallin jabs and jabs, but Fury uppercuts him against ropes. Wallin's only hope is the cut, pinned against the ropes taking punishment. Wallin's back is covered with Fury's blood from the cut. Fury is slowing down a bit later in the round but still has some big shots to unfurl. Wallin is surviving admirably though. Fury 10-9; 99-94.
- Round 11: Wallin looks spry and active as the round starts, and he's moving in on Fury early. But a minute in he's against the ropes again. Fury 3-punch combo. Fury lets loose with combos near the end of the round, bullying Wallin. Fury 10-9; 109-103
- Round 12: Very unlikely the fight is stopped due to the cut now, so Wallin needs a miracle. Fury dancing now, Wallin staying back too. Fury jumps in with combo. Huge left from Wallin rocks Fury! Wallin sees Fury hurt, Fury is staying close though, despite being wobbled. Cut looks terrible, too. Has to survive half a round in this shape. Fury is holding...good uppercut from Fury but Wallin is boxing and Fury is just sleepwalking. Fury looks better now with seconds left. Fury survives the round. Wallin 10-9; Fury 118-113.
We think the scorecards could range from 115-113 Fury to 118-110, but it should be unanimous.
Decision: 116-112, 117-111, 118-110 all for Fury
Judges decisions were all within the range of our card, if you give the 10-10 rounds to each fighter. WOW Wallin has a horrible cut of his own over his eye.
Fury showed both his strengths and weaknesses with this bout. Fury isn't the kind that kind end a fight quickly; he's best when he can take his time and win rounds. This time, though, he had to try to win quickly, and though he won the rounds, he left himself open to Wallin's late surge. Everyone who has followed Fury's career knows it doesn't take much to put him on unsteady legs, and that happened in Round 12.
But he also showed how good he can be in a messy bout, and showed his heart, which no one has questioned since he came back from the 12th round knockdown by Deontay Wilder. Hopefully he doesn't take any more of these fights before facing Wilder in a rematch for the heavyweight title.