Sunday 1 September 2019 21:12, UK
Hughie Fury endured another setback as he suffered a unanimous points defeat to Alexander Povetkin at The O2.
The 24-year-old heavyweight, cousin of former world champion Tyson, could not contain the sustained aggression of Povetkin, who earned a 117-111 verdict on all three scorecards.
Beginning with busy movement, Fury pumped stiff jabs onto Povetkin, who was inches away with a looping left hook.
The Russian tried to slow his elusive opponent with a thumping body shot in the second round, but Fury used his accurate jab to repel this early aggression in the third.
Hurtful hooks from Povetkin tested the durability of Fury in the fourth, and the seasoned 39-year-old stepped up his assault in the fifth as he unloaded a clubbing right hand.
But Fury maintained his disciplined game-plan, offsetting Povetkin with clever movement and sharp counters in the sixth.
With Povetkin showing signs of frustration, Fury tried to ram home right hands in the seventh, although he was caught with another crunching hook.
A short right hand stiffened the legs of Fury in the eighth, with blood trickling from a cut over his left eye, and Povetkin found the range again with his right in the ninth.
Fury stalled Povetkin's march in the 10th, whipping in looping right hands, but the former WBA champion displayed his experience in the 11th, landing a few eye-catching hooks.
Into the final round, both fighters stood and traded as Fury searched in vain for a telling punch, and Povetkin received a comfortable win on all three scorecards.
