TYSON Fury declared himself The Greatest yesterday after winning one of the most sensational fights in boxing history — then partied like a champion until 3am.
The Gypsy King, 33, held on to his crown by battering American Deontay Wilder to the canvas in the 11th round in Las Vegas.
Echoing Muhammad Ali, Tyson roared: “Am I the greatest heavyweight of my era? Without a doubt. I believe I could beat anyone in history.”
The Gypsy King swigged £800 vodka from the bottle, sank lager and sang to fans just three hours after KO-ing Deontay Wilder.
He told clubbers: “They’ll be talking about this f***ing fight a thousand years from today. They’ll say where were you? You were all here with the champ!”
Hours earlier, after coming back off the canvas twice, he said: “Am I the greatest heavyweight of my era? Without a doubt. Number one, numero uno. I believe I could beat anyone in history. Any man born, I believe I’ve got a really good chance of beating him.”
Superstar Fury, 33, added: “Next, I’ve gotta go get drunk — so thank you very much.”
True to his word, after clubbing his American rival with a right hand in the 11th round to end the fight at 9.35pm, he was at Hakkasan club by 12.45am.
The Sun had a ringside seat at the bash where he partied with wife Paris, 31, brother Tommy, 22, boxer Joseph Parker, 29, and 30 of his entourage.
Fury entered the club to AC/DC hit You Shook Me All Night Long, the song he used for his ring walk, wearing a suit and trousers emblazoned with his Gypsy King motif. Clutching a Bud Light, sporting two black eyes and a welt on his head he took off his suit jacket and began to dance bare-chested.
He shadowboxed to Queen song We Are The Champions and posed with fans, before jumping on top of the DJ booth with Tommy and Parker.
A cannon fired confetti into the crowd as Fury blew kisses and put his hands together in a praying motion during hit Livin’ On A Prayer.
‘I’VE GOTTA GO GET DRUNK’
The dad of six also led the crowd in a round of “Oh, Tyson Fury” to the tune of White Stripes song Seven Nation Army. For the next few hours, he partied with wife Paris in a VIP area gulping from two £800 magnums of Grey Goose vodka on his table and necking Bud Light bottles.
The club’s menu includes 30 litres of Ace of Spades Rose champagne for £217,000, while a three-litre bottle costs a mere £15,000. VIP punters spending £1,400 on booze had bottles brought to them inside a makeshift boxing belt, by women dressed in multi-coloured robes.
DJ Steve Aoki played at the five-floor venue inside the MGM Grand. When he put on Don McLean classic American Pie, Fury couldn’t resist grabbing the mic to serenade the crowd with a singalong.
He then leapt on to the DJ booth again and launched into Sweet Caroline for the second time. After snogging wife Paris, who had earlier been dancing on the sofas of the VIP area, he then began to whip up the crowd. Fury roared: “Make some fing noise! Is everybody having a good time in here tonight? Let’s take this up a f***ing notch. Let’s take it to paradise, ecstasy!”
As AC/DC song Thunderstruck began to play Fury, still shirtless and standing on top of the DJ booth, played an air guitar and declared it “one of the greatest songs that has been written”.
As the crowd chanted the fighter’s name, DJ Aoki yelled: “This is Tyson Fury day! We have a legend in the building with us.”
Fury, Paris and their entourage left the club at 3am. Last night he was due to host a pool party.
The high drama in Sin City marked an explosive conclusion to the trilogy of fights between Fury and 35-year-old Wilder.
‘LEGEND IN THE BUILDING’
The first contest ended in a contentious draw before Fury beat down Wilder in a seventh-round TKO last February. The third fight, set for July, was postponed when Fury caught Covid.
In August his newborn daughter Athena was fighting for life in intensive care. By turning up for Saturday’s bout both fighters were said to have earned a minimum of £30million.
Fury, the undefeated WBC title-holder, could now net £100million in a match up with Brit Anthony Joshua next year. Millions of bleary-eyed Brits got up at 4.40am for the fight.
In Vegas, a full house of 20,000 including basketball legends Magic Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal were at the T-Mobile Arena. Tickets were going for £3,600 each, rising to £28,000 ringside.
Fury’s topsy-turvy career has seen him abuse cocaine and balloon to more than 28 stone. He would drink 18 pints of lager a day, plus whisky and vodka, before stopping off on the way home for pizzas and kebabs.
The Manchester-born star, now based in Morecambe, gave up his world titles in 2017 after accepting a backdated two-year doping ban. He was hit by severe depression and attempted suicide.
After arriving at the T-Mobile Arena, Fury had warned those back home: “Take some energy drinks, whatever you need. Stay awake — it’s gonna be exciting.”
He entered the ring dressed as a Spartan and knocked down Wilder in the third round. The Brit was floored twice in the fourth but slowly gained control and left Wilder with blood oozing from his mouth and left ear.
Finally, a minute and ten seconds into Round 11, Fury’s spectacular KO ended the contest. With tearful Paris by his side, he belted out Walking in Vegas to fans and added: “Lancashire, la la la.”
Actor Dwayne The Rock Johnson raved: “That was one of the greatest fights I’ve ever seen. Congrats to my friend & champion Tyson Fury. What a beautiful & resilient performance.”
Piers Morgan tweeted: “What. A. Fight. Two absolute warriors.”
Match of the Day’s Gary Lineker added: “What a champion.”
Fury said afterwards: “Don’t ever doubt me. When the chips are down, I can always deliver. I can only beat whoever’s in my era and I’ve done that all my life. I’m the greatest heavyweight of my era.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
