The best performances by British boxers abroad
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Tyson Fury was crowned WBC heavyweight champion after producing a career-best performance against Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas on Saturday night. The ‘Gypsy King’ stopped the ‘Bronze Bomber’ in the seventh round to extend his unbeaten record and end Wilder’s five-year reign as champion. Following Fury’s excellent display, we’ve taken a look at some of the best performances from British boxers abroad.
Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder - 2018
Fury and Wilder’s draw in 2018 went down as one of the most enthralling heavyweight clashes in recent years. Fury twice recovered from being knocked down and was the winner for many on the night, but the fight ended in a controversial draw.
Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Jr - 2019
Joshua became a two-time world heavyweight champion with a unanimous points victory over Ruiz last year. The Brit suffered a shock defeat to Ruiz but managed to get his belts back with a fine win in Saudi Arabia.
Tyson Fury vs Wladimir Klitschko - 2015
Fury’s first major boxing triumph abroad came back in 2015 when he dethroned the iconic Klitschko. The ‘Gypsy King’ was a huge underdog for the bout in Germany but produced a brilliant performance to shock the boxing world.
James DeGale vs Andre Dirrell - 2015
DeGale beat Dirrell on a unanimous points decision to win the IBF super-middleweight title in 2015. DeGale became the first Brit to win a gold medal at the Olympics and be crowned world champion following the win.
Joe Calzaghe vs Bernard Hopkins - 2008
Calzaghe won on his debut in the US with victory over Bernard Hopkins, in what was his first fight in the light-heavyweight division.
Kell Brook vs Shawn Porter - 2013
Brook went into his IBF world welterweight bout with Porter as the underdog, but earned a majority points decision to beat the American on home soil.
Carl Froch vs Jermain Taylor - 2009
Froch snatched victory from the jaws of defeat following his last round win over Taylor, flooring the American in the dying seconds of their super-middleweight bout.
Darren Barker vs Daniel Geale - 2013
Barker won the IBF middleweight title in the states on a split points decision over Geale in 2013, despite being knocked down in the sixth round.
Danny Williams vs Mike Tyson - 2004
Williams famously beat boxing great Tyson in America back in 2004, with a fourth-round victory that stunned the world.
Ricky Hatton vs Jose Luis Castillo - 2007
Another Brit who won in the fourth round in the US was Hatton, who stopped Castillo with a body shot in their light-welterweight clash in Las Vegas.
Naseem Hamed vs Kevin Kelley - 1997
‘Prince’ Naseem is another to have tasted victory on his debut in the US, and another who won in the fourth round, following his win against Kevin Kelley at Madison Square Garden.
Lennox Lewis vs Evander Holyfield - 1999
Lewis’ first bout against Holyfield in 1999 ended in controversial fashion, with the Brit appearing to dominate the fight only for the result to be called a draw. Lewis stormed out of the ring following the decision.
Lennox Lewis vs Evander Holyfield - 1999
Lewis eventually claimed victory over Holyfield in November 1999 in Las Vegas however, with a unanimous points decision.
Lloyd Honeyghan vs Donald Curry - 1986
Honeyghan shocked the boxing world with his sixth-round victory over Don Curry in 1986, and became the undisputed world welterweight champion in America.
Nigel Benn vs Doug DeWitt - 1990
Benn produced a stunning performance to beat DeWitt in the eighth round of their WBO world middleweight title clash in April 1990, again in America.
Nigel Benn vs Iran Barkley - 1990
Benn then produced another fine display in his first defence of the WBO world middleweight title four months later, flooring Barkley in the states three times in his first-round victory.
Alan Minter vs Vito Antuofermo - 1980
Minter became the WBC and WBA world middleweight champion in the US in 1980 after his split decision win over Antuofermo.
Ken Buchanan vs Ruben Navarro - 1971
Buchanan became the WBA lightweight champion following his victory over Navarro in Las Vegas in 1971.
Ken Buchanan vs Ismael Laguna, 1971
Buchanan then successfully defended his WBA lightweight title against Laguna in 1971 despite having to contend with a badly cut left eye in America.
Jack Berg vs Kid Chocolate, 1930
Jack ‘Kid Berg beat Kid Chocolate in 1930 to inflict a first defeat on the Cuban great, following a split points decision in the states.
Ted Lewis vs Jack Britton, 1917
Ted ‘Kid’ Lewis and Britton fought no less than 20 times throughout their careers, but Lewis’ most famous victory against the American came when he won the world welterweight title in 1917.
Bob Fitzsimmons vs James J Corbett, 1897
Fitzsimmons became the world heavyweight champion following his victory over Corbett in America in 1897, and he was the first boxer to win three world titles.