Hughie Fury outclasses Sam Sexton to win British heavyweight title

By Husmukh Kerai

Image: Hughie Fury stopped Sam Sexton in the fifth round with a right hook

Hughie Fury stopped Sam Sexton in the fifth round to become the new British heavyweight champion on Saturday evening at the Macron Stadium, Bolton.

Fury, 23, lost a controversial close decision to former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker in his last fight five months ago and had hoped a British title win would catapult him back onto the world title scene.

Sexton, 10 years older than Fury, started off the contest on the front foot, pushing Fury back with an early flurry of punches which set the precedent without ever troubling the challenger.

But Fury's movement improved in the subsequent rounds, making his opponent miss his big shots despite sacrificing the middle of the ring, while using his jab effectively, consistently landing with his powerful right hand.

Image: Hughie Fury wants to now be back in contention for world heavyweight title fights

By the fourth round, Fury had asserted his dominance and grown in confidence, picking and choosing his shots while his opponent continued to charge him down naively. That strategy proved fruitful as Fury's counter combinations floored Sexton just before the bell.

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Sexton came out aggressively in the fifth but another well-timed right hook from Fury, while on the ropes, dropped Sexton for the second time leaving the referee little choice other than to stop the contest.

"I've done everything he said tonight - this fight is dedicated to my dad," Fury told Channel 5. "I was confident. My body has got so much stronger,

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"I worked on my right hand over Christmas. It was a boxing masterclass. I dream to be a world champion. Whoever has those belts - I'm coming, although I lost [to Parker] I'm coming, I'm ready to fight,"

Fury's trainer, Peter Fury, described his fighter as an 'uncrowned world champion' after the bout amid speculation he could fight Alexander Povetkin in his next contest, while a domestic showdown against Commonwealth heavyweight champion Joe Joyce has also been mentioned.

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