HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT BLOOD , SWEAT AND CHEERS

‘Fighting man’ Fury survives two horrific cuts – which require 47 stitches – to beat tough guy Otto

ONE of Tyson

Fury’s most used phrases is that he is a “fighting man”.

Well, he certainly backed up his words against Otto Wallin at the T-mobile Arena in Las Vegas, coming through to win despite later needing 47 stitches to patch up two horrific cuts above his right eye.

This was a performance of grit and determination in a bout many had expected to be a walk in the park.

Fury, 31, danced and joked around in the dressing room with promoter Frank Warren before he went out to face the previously unbeaten Swede, which suggested he predicted an easy night.

Then he went through one of the most extravagant ring entrances of recent times in homage to Mexico’s Independence Day celebrations.

That was tipped to be the highlight of the night with Fury the heavy favourite to easily dispatch of Wallin. But

those smiles from the dressing room turned to worried frowns in the third round when two horror cuts were opened up by a left hand from the 28-year-old southpaw.

Blood poured and fears rose that not only could Fury’s own unbeaten record be under threat, but a lucrative rematch with WBC champ Deontay Wilder was about to disappear. He was angry, furious he had allowed it to happen and even more annoyed with Wallin’s tactics to open up the cut further in the following rounds.

The sly Swede would often leave his head in during exchanges for it to rub up against the open wounds, or use the open-hand of his glove to rake down the cuts.

Fury was so mad at one point he roared at Wallin and called him a “c***”. But he did not let his frustrations boil over so that he lost too many rounds. This was a performance of true courage if not supreme class.

He dug in and did things he has never had to really do, like get stuck in on the inside and protect a huge cut.

Fury knew that at any moment the ringside doctor could be called again and inform referee Tony Weeks he should halt the bout. The doctor twice looked over the two gory cuts, but both times was not convinced.

Fury was still able to control the contest despite his sight being hindered by a curtain of blood which didn’t give Weeks an opportunity to stop it.

And the British fighter was helped by Wallin tiring massively into the second half of the bout as he got through rounds and won them to ease fears one of the biggest upsets in boxing history was on the cards.

He was still, somehow, enjoying it as he informed trainer Ben Davison at one point during a round break that he “lives for this s***”.

There was one further scare in the 12th when Wallin connected with a cracking left.

Fury was rocked, reeling back into the ropes and back in survival mode.

But he saw out the round to take it 116-112, 117-111 and 118-110 on the cards.