Fury Stops Hammer in Eight Rounds

But was it the kind of performance we hoped for?

Headlining the show at the O2 Arena, in London, Tyson Fury, in facing Christian Hammer, knew that he was putting his WBO mandatory challenger status on the line against the unbeaten German based Romanian fighter, and it kind of showed in his performance.

Entering the ring to the strange sight of an Elvis impersonator singing , Tyson Fury looked an imposing figure and the action was soon underway.

Round 1 – Cagey stuff early on with Fury dancing around the ring, trying to draw Hammer onto him but catching the Romanian with his jab courtesy of his huge reach advantage. Fury finished the round with a decent right-left combination to catch the eye of the judges.

Round 2 – Fury continued to keep Hammer at distance, jabbing away with accuracy before landing an upper-cut that ensured he round belonged to him.

Round 3 – Hammer was getting frustrated, looking for the big-shot but unable to get close enough. Eventually Hammer did land a right on Fury but the Mancunian responded with a burst of punches before retreating out of range.

Round 4 – A lull in what little action we had seen earlier with Fury content to just jab away keeping Hammer at bay.

Round 5 – The action heated up as Fury managed to land a big shot to floor Hammer but the Romanian managed to beat the count. Fury looked to end the fight and caught Hammer with some big shots to the head but the bell intervened and the Romanian was safe for another round.

Round 6 – Fury continued to stalk Hammer but the Romanian was hanging on in there and an illegal tactic saw Hammer cautioned, by the referee, for the use of his head.

Round 7 – Fury switched to the body trying to end Hammer?s resistance but the Romanian hung on in and kept grabbing Fury to tie him up forcing the referee to intervene.

Round 8 – Reverting back to the jab Fury enjoyed success but Hammer kept in close crowding Fury and eventually nullifying his work. It was fast turning into a messy fight. Fury was on top but Hammer knew one big punch could change things. However, his corner had other ideas and when Hammer sat on his stool for the end of the eighth round they promptly threw the towel in.

Fury had won but it was hardly the kind of performance that would have Deontay Wilder and Wladimir Klitschko quaking in their boots.