How Tyson Fury beat Wladimir Klitschko.

Yesterday night the boxing world witnessed a shift in the balance of power in the heavyweight division. The young pretender defeated the long reigning king and in turn not only made history for himself but also reawakened the most prestigious division in the sport. It was an ugly fight but a beautiful victory but the question people will ask is how did Tyson Fury manage to dethrone Wladimir Klitschko?

For me there were essentially 5 pivotal reasons why Tyson Fury beat Wladimir Klitschko:

1) Movement
Perhaps the most important aspect of Furys victory was his movement. From the first bell it was apparent that Fury was implementing a game plan which didn't include him being stationary. He not only moved his feet exceptionally well in the fight but his head movement was terrific. As the fight progressed Fury did begin to slow but from rounds 1-8 he was consistently ducking,weaving,feinting,changing stances and making life very difficult for Wlad. We know that the jab is Wlads go to weapon but he couldn't land it because he was unable to get a read on Furys movement. Furys unpredictability made Wlad look like a rabbit caught in the headlights.

2) Speed
Another key factor which is intrinsically linked with his movement was Furys speed. Fury was very loose and relaxed in there and when he let his punches go Wlad couldn't react quick enough. Not only was the movement preventing Wlad from getting his timing and punches up to speed but Furys quick hands meant if he did commit to a punch and missed Fury would be able to counter. Furys quick flick jab and feints kept Wlad at bay throughout the fight and it was only during the latter stages when both guys slowed that Wlad had any success landing punches.

3) Reach/Size
A lot was said beforehand about the dimensions of both guys and more importantly about Furys advantages in this department, which ultimately proved to be a constant thorn in Wlads side. The reach advantage complimented Furys speed and together they stopped Wlad in his tracks. Not only could Fury get his shots off quicker, he could do it from a safe distance. When when did hold and grab, Wlad couldn't lean or sap his opponents energy like he does with smaller guys. Fury was able to hold his own physically which Wlad didn't seem to have an answer to. Before the fight the size of Fury was touted as a potential issue for Wlad and it ended up being a crucial factor.

4) Heart
Wlad has never been known as a lay it all on the line type of fighter. Any one that has seen his fights knows he fights safe but against a foe who was getting the better of him, it took Wlad 8-9 rounds to actually let his hands go and attempt to land shots. This isn't a wet behind the ears rookie, this is an experienced fighter who has held the heavyweight title for 10+ years and he didn't show one ounce of heart in this fight. When champions are down they get back up again but with Wlad it was as if he threw in the towel and accepted he was going to lose. Fury on the other hand gave it his all in a foreign land where so many others have failed, he took the step and showed an ingredient that all champions need and that is heart.

5) Psychological warfare
This might be a controversial one but I honestly think Fury rattled Wlad in the build up. The batman costume, the outlandish digs and comments, the ice cool demeanour during the face off and the no nonsense attitude he took when Wlad attempted sneaky tactics like putting foam under the ring. Fury said it right, Wlad is a control freak and he functions well when things go his way but Fury brought unpredictability and the unknown which frightened Wlad.

Thoughts on what Fury done well?