Tyson Fury was put in the same breath as the great Muhammad Ali after his stunning display to stop Deontay Wilder and win the WBC world heavyweight title in Las Vegas.
Fury stopped Wilder in the seventh round of their rematch at the MGM Grand to inflict the first defeat of the American's professional career - 14 months on from their controversial draw in Los Angeles.
The vast majority of observers believed Fury was the rightful winner of that first fight, but he underlined his dominance on Saturday night with a resounding display in which he twice knocked Wilder to the canvas before the towel came in during the seventh round.
British former world cruiserweight champion Glenn McCrory believes Fury is boxing his way towards being considered among the greatest of all time.
π 2015: WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO, Lineal & Ring champ
β Sporting Life (@SportingLife) February 23, 2020
2016: Vacates titles to deal with mental illness
π 2018: Begins comeback & loses 10 stone
π 2020: WBC, Lineal & Ring champ
π There isn't a title Tyson Fury hasn't won! #WilderFury #WildervsFury2 https://t.co/Oj2lR0EDnh
McCrory said in his role on TalkSport: "A while ago I said, and I was laughed at, that in years to come Tyson Fury will be remembered in the same ilk as Muhammad Ali and he is on his way.
"People said I was stupid, but there is nothing like the Gypsy King.
"He does things differently, the same as Muhammad Ali did, he names rounds and says how he will win and he goes out and does it. Ali is the greatest of all time but Fury is doing some great things in the heavyweight division.
"He got the tactics exactly right. His jab was far sharper, he was pushing the jab hard into Wilder's face.
π Frank Bruno
β Sporting Life (@SportingLife) February 23, 2020
π Lennox Lewis
π Tyson Fury
π¬π§π₯ The three British boxers to wear that famous WBC heavyweight belt@Tyson_Fury #WildervsFury2 #WilderFury2 pic.twitter.com/aYnvGGobs5
"That was so conclusive, nobody will want to see a third fight and certainly Deontay Wilder does not want a third fight. Fury should have won the first fight, should have got it on points.
"Now he has gone out there and totally dominated, smashed Deontay Wilder from pillar to post. He will want none of that. There is one champion in the world, he is number one and his name is Tyson Fury."
Fury's former trainer Ben Davison took to Twitter to pay tribute to the new champion and labelled it the "best story in boxing history".
π₯ From one Tyson to another!
β Sporting Life (@SportingLife) February 23, 2020
π Iron Mike celebrates the Gypsy King's victory over Deontay Wilder! #WilderFury2 #WildervsFury pic.twitter.com/EU2UTYg5P5
He wrote: "Credit goes to the fighter I always say that but fantastic job sugar hill and @AndyLeeBoxing too. Also Tyson family, brothers, father, wife and kids. THE BEST STORY IN BOXING HISTORY.
"Nobody ever tell me Tyson isn't in the all time heavyweight great list now.
"If Tyson doesn't get a return parade this country needs to seriously take a long look at itself."
π¬π§ππ₯ Britain now hold all the heavyweight world titles!
β Sporting Life (@SportingLife) February 23, 2020
π Tyson Fury: WBC, lineal & Ring champion
π Anthony Joshua: WBA, IBF, WBO & IBO champion
π― But who would win if they finally met in the ring?#WilderFury2 #WildervsFury2
Lennox Lewis produced what is considered to be among the finest fights by a British boxer when he beat Mike Tyson in Memphis in 2002.
Lewis tweeted: "Congrats to Tyson Fury on a huge win and bossing his way to the WBC & Ring Heavyweight straps. Once again you showed up big. @BronzeBomber (Deontay Wilder) keep your head up and learn from this."
Thoughts will now turn to where next for both Fury and Wilder, with British rival Anthony Joshua - who holds the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles - a potential opponent for Fury in a unification fight.
Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn is keen for that to happen, tweeting: "No need for a third let's go straight to it in the Summer! #undisputed."
Hearn also replied to a tweet suggesting he would not want to allow Joshua to step into the ring with Fury, saying: "Ofcourse I am! And AJ wants it bad..this fight is gonna and has to happen this year!"
π₯ 30 fights
β Sporting Life (@SportingLife) February 23, 2020
π 29 wins, 1 'draw'
π 21 knockouts
π WBC, lineal & Ring champion
π¬π§π Britain's Gypsy King rules again! #WilderFury #WildervsFury2 pic.twitter.com/CnqAO3FGPE
The superior boxer prevailed. Well done to @Tyson_Fury . So proud of what this man has achieved over the last few years. What an achievement. Again, he goes to the lions den, never ducks a man. I love that WBC belt and I love that Fury is the holder. Congratulations boss π ππΎπ₯ pic.twitter.com/6Nr0EGu86n
β Frank Bruno MBE π¬π§ (@frankbrunoboxer) February 23, 2020
#WilderFury2 shook up the entire sports world π₯ pic.twitter.com/TkW1hPh2Ut
β ESPN (@espn) February 23, 2020
π¬π§ππ₯ Britain now hold all the heavyweight world titles!
β Sporting Life (@SportingLife) February 23, 2020
π Tyson Fury: WBC, lineal & Ring champion
π Anthony Joshua: WBA, IBF, WBO & IBO champion
π― But who would win if they finally met in the ring?#WilderFury2 #WildervsFury2