‘I was out cold’ - Tyson Fury recalls defining moment against Deontay Wilder

Tyson Fury has reflected on his jaw-dropping recovery against Deontay Wilder that ultimately transformed his fortunes.

Back in 2018, Fury had made his return to the ring after giving up his world titles and spending almost three years out of the sport, amid struggles with mental health. The lineal heavyweight champion earned two comeback victories that summer and was rewarded with a shot at Wilder’s WBC title.

There was little evidence of any ring rust from Fury as the ‘Gypsy King’ produced a sparkling performance for large spells of the fight In LA and looked on course to start a second title reign. The threat of Wilder's power was never too far away, though. The ‘Bronze Bomber’ had finished 39 of his 40 fights by stoppage and sent Fury to the canvas in round nine.

Then came the final round. A devastating combination from Wilder saw Fury land flat on his back and seemingly set for the first defeat of his career. However, a remarkable rise from the canvas saw him beat the referee’s count and eventually earn a split draw in an unforgettable moment of sporting drama.

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Watching the fight back with TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand, Fury said: “I thought I was out of there. I didn’t know what happened to me. I was out cold. I opened my eyes and saw the referee going ‘4, 5,’ and I thought ‘f*** I’ve been knocked down here! Get up!’

“But I didn’t want to rush up because I didn’t know where my legs were going to be.

“I’d just been chinned properly and if you jump up and you end up falling over again, it gets stopped so I took