Tyson Fury faces Dillian Whyte for the WBC heavyweight title tonight in an absolutely massive fight at Wembley.
There will be in the region of 94,000 fans in attendance for the all-British heavyweight clash, as Fury makes his return to the UK. It’s almost four years since he last fought on home soil.
Much of that period has been taken up by Deontay Wilder, with the last of those three fights coming in October as Fury beat the American for the second time to comprehensively put that rivalry to bed.
All the while, Whyte has been waiting patiently for his opportunity. That almost unravelled when he suffered a heavy knockout defeat to Alexander Povetkin, but he avenged that loss last March and has not been in the ring since – he’ll be hoping that inactivity does not hamper him.
Also on the card, Tommy Fury, Tyson’s brother, returns to action for the first time since he pulled out of facing Jake Paul at the end of last year. Victory would take his record to 8-0.
Isaac Lowe, who lost for the first time in his last fight against Luis Alberto Lopez, fights Nick Ball for the vacant WBC silver featherweight title. Ekow Essuman vs Darren Tetley is a late addition to the bill.
Boxing schedule and results
Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte
Ekow Essuman vs Darren Tetley
Isaac Lowe vs Nick Ball
David Adeleye vs Chris Healey
Tommy Fury vs Daniel Bocianski
Karol Itauma bt Michal Ciach
Royston Barney-Smith bt Constantin Radoi
Kurt Walker bt Stefan Nicolae
With Matt Majendie at Wembley, follow Fury vs Whyte LIVE with Standard Sport’s blog below!
Live updates
Barney-Smith reacts to earlier win…
“Myself and my team know I could have done a little bit more.
“I’m only 18, I’m on this platform and I want to improve, I’m a bit too eager.
“Keep stepping up the ladder, keeping getting better, and get to my ambition of being a world champion before I’m 22.”
Ciach didn’t look happy as that was waved off, but it was the right decision from the referee. Was only going to end in a bad knockout the way it was going.
The unbeaten Itauma moves on to 7-0 with another stoppage win. Real power behind his shots from the first seconds.
Matt Majendie at Wembley
The seats are slowly beginning to fill at Wembley Stadium with a crowd of 94,000 anticipated if it’s at capacity for what would be a British record. The sun creeping’s out occasionally from the clouds above but the noise is fairly muted for some of the early undercard fights.
Itauma vs Ciach
Round 2
Ciach sitting on the ropes, he’s really out of his depth at the moment. Plenty of heart being shown though.
Body shot from Itauma gets through, they’re slowing down his opponent even more. Combinations coming in too, not sure there’s too much longer of this one to go…
CIACH DOWN AGAIN! He’s up at seven, but the referee waves it off! Itauma has a second-round stoppage win. Dominant.
Itauma vs Ciach
Round 1
Ciach already looks uncomfortable, with a couple of big right hands having landed on the Polish man. Good work to the body from Itauma.
This is absolutely dominant from Itauma, don’t think Ciach has thrown a punch yet. Just wants to cover up.
Itauma is unloading, this is punishing stuff… CIACH DOWN! Still a minute left in the round too. Can he make it to the bell?
He’s back on the ropes, hanging on for dear life. Itauma continues to march forward. Ciach does hear the bell, but it was a brutal first three minutes.
Itauma has a couple of quick stoppages on his record already, and he’s promised another impressed display.
We’re underway!
Next up…
On we go!
Karol Itauma vs Michal Ciach next up on the bell. Itauma has an unbeaten 6-0 on record, looks to extend that tonight against his Polish opponent.
Four rounds of light-heavyweight action coming up!
Barney-Smith wins on points!
Radoi jumps on the ropes with a massive smile on his face, he’s clearly enjoyed the experience fighting at Wembley. He knows full well he hasn’t won this though!
Referee scores it 40-36 to Barney-Smith, no surprise at all though.
Job done for the teenager. Extends his professional record to 2-0.
Barney-Smith vs Radoi
Round 4
Looks like Barney-Smith is happy to just keep the control without forcing anything.
Radoi hasn’t got within range more than once or twice, he’s been kept on the end of Barney-Smith’s jab.
Final minute of the bout coming up – couple of punches to the body from Radoi as they clinch, but he’s lost every round of this.
And that’s the bell! Lovely performance from the 18-year-old, composed and confident throughout.
