Tyson Fury vs Francesco Pianeta: Gypsy King sets up world title shot with Deontay Wilder after his points win win over the Italian
Gypsy King has moved one step closer to reclaiming his heavyweight belt after his points win over the Italian
TYSON FURY warmed up for his fight against Deontay Wilder with a wide points victory against Francesco Pianeta.
But it’s likely the Bronze Bomber and reigning WBC king won’t be unduly worried at the prospect of facing a still-ring rusty Fury.
There were even boos as the final bell sounded of what was the most routine of nights for the Gypsy King.
With all the drama and aggro that has gone on during fight week, you could almost forget poor old Francesco Pianeta.
Fury and his dad John clashed with Wilder during his weigh-in at the Europa Hotel.
Then his good friend and current WBO middleweight champ Billy Joe Saunders stormed Nando’s in Belfast city centre on Friday night and threw chicken at Wilder before a brawl ensued.
But back to fight night, and Fury had insisted the German-based Italian would offer more of a challenge than Sefer Seferi.
That should have been the least to be expected.
Fury danced and hugged his way to victory against the Macedonian in his big comeback fight in June.
But there were boos as the fight came to an end. Most were directed at Seferi who pulled himself out after four embarrassingly lop-sided rounds.
Coming to the ring to Sweet Home Alabama - definitely trolling Wilder with that one, the 25,000 crowd in Belfast were electrified by Fury before a punch had been thrown.
The two really went at it in the first round. Pianeta showed more in three minutes than Seferi did in 12.
Fury seemed to enjoy being hit in the face, beckoning Pianeta in. Both traded lusty blows, but Fury never seemed hurt.
The Lineal heavyweight champ got that dominant jab going in the second, but Pianeta clearly fancied causing a huge upset, and landed some big shots.
But Fury was clearly the boxer and Pianeta gulped some big breaths down.
That seemed to do the trick as Pianeta landed a sweet left hook that forced Fury back onto the ropes at the start of the third.
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Into the fourth round, and Fury had matched fire with fire so far with little case of defence. Pianeta certainly hadn’t come to Belfast to be Fury’s new punchbag.
Fury started the fifth with a dance in the middle of the ring, while his opponent lumbered out of his corner.
But the round didn’t match the smooth dancing, with neither boxer landing anything of note.
It seemed Fury was ready to end the contest in the sixth, and Pianeta went into survival mode, but survive he did.
Fury was warned for a low blow in the seventh, but remained the aggressor throughout.
Into the eighth, somewhat surprising to most ringside.
The eighth and ninth turned more into sparring sessions, as Pianeta looked like he had chanced his arm on a seismic KO early doors.
Fury hammered in from all angles in the ninth - the Italian looking pleased to be there. The tenth and final round simply gave Fury the chance to showcase more of his skills.