Tommy Fury is back in the win column after a year long absence, grinding out a majority decision over former World Strongest Man Eddie Hall in front of a raucous crowd at Manchester's AO Arena.
It wasn't a boxing masterclass, and nobody expected it to be. At 49kg lighter. Fury couldn't trade bomb with Hall. But over six rounds of Misfits Boxing chaos, technique beat brute force.
FURY'S NIGHT, JUST ABOUT
The scorecard read 59-56, 58-56, and 57-57. A majority decision for Fury. The game plan was clear from the opening bell, move, jab, clinch when needed, and don't get caught clean. Fury stuck to it. He stayed on his toes, peppered Hall with straight shots, and tied him up whenever the former strongest man tried to load up.
Hall had his moments. He landed a couple of heavy shots that reminded everyone why he was once the World Strongest Man on the planet. The crowd roared every time he swung. But Fury's footwork and defensive awareness kept him out of real trouble. Hall's lack of boxing experience showed when he gassed in the later rounds, and Fury pounced with flurries to steal them.
After the final bell, Fury raised his glove and immediately dedicated the win to his newborn son, Midas. He also praised Hall's toughness, "Fair play to him, he came to fight, He's got a chin and he's got heart."
Ringside added to the spectacle. Tyson Fury was there to back his half brother, and Manchester City star Phil Foden showed up to watch. For a Misfits Boxing card, it felt like a proper event.
THE WEIGHT GAP WAS REAL
Let's not pretend this was a fair fight on paper. 49kg is a massive gap, that's like fighting someone a full weight class and a half above you. Hall came in looking every bit with 160kg+ monster he is. Fury, lean at around 110kg, had to be smart.
He was. He didn't try to stand and bang. He used angles, stayed mobile, and made Hall work for every inch. By round four, Hall's punches had lost their shap. By round six, Fury was in control landing the cleaner shots and avoiding the big swings.
UNDERCARD HIGHLIGHT: JADE JONES ROLLS THROUGH
The co-main didn't disappoint either. Two times Olympic taekwondo champion Jade jones looked right at home in the boxing ring. She dropped Argentina's Federikite in the first round with a sharp right hand, then came out in the second round and forced w stoppage with a barrage of punches.
It was a clinical display from Jones, who's clearly putting the hours in. If she keeps this up, she could be a real problem in crossover boxing.
WHAT NEXT FOR FURY?
A year out of the ring could have left Fury rusty. Instead, he looked sharp enough to do what he had to do. Was it pretty? No. Did it matter? Not really. This was about getting back in, shaking off the ring rust, and winning in fron of his home crowd.
He's called for bigger names before. Whether this win pushes him toward another proper boxing match or keep him in the Misfits world remains to be seen. One thing's is clear, Tommy Fury back, Hall proved he can take a shot, and Manchester got exactly the kind of chaotic, entertaining night Misfits Boxing promises.
Not a classic, but mission accomplished for Tommy Fury.
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