Tyson Fury is developing a reputation for roller-coaster fights and this one was no different, but it ended with another KO and the retention of his perfect record. He was fighting only eight weeks after beating Derek Chisora and against an opponent that stepped in at two weeks' notice and has eight defeats on his record, so Fury was rightly the pre-fight favourite.
The fight started with Fury looking every bit the better fighter as he established the jab early on and was able to land it largely at will. At times he'd follow it with the over-hand right and shook Firtha with one mid-way through the round, before going looking for the finish with combinations; though he landed well Firtha was able to make the bell. The second round followed a similar pattern with the jab being dominant and Firtha unable to get inside. Fury looked comfortable and in control.
As ever though, nothing is that simple when Fury fights. In the middle of the third Firtha landed a big over-hand right and followed it up with a solid left-right combination and Fury was rocked. His legs were shaky and he retreated to the ropes with Firtha coming after him and looking to end the fight. Fury covered up, held at times, and was able to make it to the end of the round.
The break between rounds was long enough for Fury to recover and in the fourth he found his jab again to keep Firtha at range, before starting to land more heavy rights. Towards the end of the round he landed another big shot and Firtha stumbled forward trying to hold, but went to the canvas and ended the round being given an eight count. Fury kept the pressure up in the fifth and a minute in landed a right flush on the chin, and with a number of combinations landing the referee stepped in to end the bout.
Firtha was still on his feet as the fight was stopped, but he was throwing fewer and fewer punches and taking more and more damage. Too many fights have been allowed to go on too long so I'm not going to criticise a ref for possibly stepping in a little early. Fury will need to learn not to ship big punches if he's to continue winning as he steps up the levels. He took heavy shots from Firtha and stayed on his feet, but he'd be unlikely to do the same against a Klitschko. Though that seems a way off still his promoter is talking of taking on the world within 18 months, and there's no doubt it would add excitement to a relatively dull division.
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