TYSON FURY WILL face WBC World heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in the winter following tonight’s stroll in the park versus unheralded foe Francesco Pianeta.
Fury never over-exerted himself against the compact Italian but looked a lot more like his former self in spurts en route to a 100-90 shutout win.
It was a fight which finished to a chorus of boos from the Belfast faithful but one whose 10 rounds will be of significant value to Fury ahead of his world title clash with Wilder.
‘The Bronze Bomber’ and Fury squared off in the ring following the latter’s victory and promised to knock each other out upon confirmation from promoter Frank Warren that the pair will square off this winter, with an exact date and location to be confirmed next week.
"One thing I promise when I go to Las Vegas is that I'm knocking you the **** out bum!"@Tyson_Fury goes off on Deontay Wilder inside the ring! 😳
— Boxing on BT Sport (@BTSportBoxing) August 18, 2018
This fight is official 🙌 pic.twitter.com/WecoDvRjEZ
The post-fight face-off between the lineal champion and the current WBC champion was more heated than the 10 rounds which preceded it, however artificially.
Seconds after first bell, though, it became apparent that Fury, having shed a further 18 pounds since his ring return and weighing lighter than he did for three consecutive fights between 2014 and 2015, was a markedly improved fighter.
Moving spryly, he mimicked Muhammad Ali with his back to the corner early doors, swinging his head in and around an early Pianeta attack.
Fury moved fluidly between orthodox and southpaw stances throughout the 10 rounds but remained in cruise control as he rediscovered his rhythm, touching the Italian to both body and head but only twice upping the ante in round 7 and towards the end of 9.
A spectacular Fury entrance containing Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ – a nod to visiting prospective opponent Wilder – had been recorded at ringside by the grinning ‘Bronze Bomber’.
The former World heavyweight champion described his efforts as a “calculated boxing performance” and admitted he was content to get the rounds under his belt.
He and Wilder spat threats at each other before embracing, and it’s understood they’ll embark upon a three-city press conference tour in the coming weeks.
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