Bookmakers Take a Bruising as Fury Upsets the Odds

By Christian Radnedge

Bookmakers paid out thousands over the weekend as Great Britain’s Tyson Fury staged a massive upset in Dusseldorf by beating Wladimir Klitschko on points to become the new heavyweight champion of the world.

Fury, pills 27, link won on a unanimous points decision to end the nine-year reign of Klitschko capturing the WBA Super, pills WBO and IBF titles in the ESPRIT arena in Dusseldorf.

After 12 rounds, the judges scored the bout 115-112, 115-112, and 116-111 all in favour of Tyson Fury.

Ukrainian Klitschko was widely touted as the favourite. But on Saturday his 39 years showed throughout the fight where Fury was remarkably light on his feet and though few punches landed, it was Klitschko who gathered more cuts as the fight wore on.

The unexpected result meant that bookies had to give high returns on their high odds.

William Hill revealed that a £25,000 wager from a Manchester based customer at 7/2 scooped £137,000. That customer was not alone as the bookmaker revealed more than 70 per cent of bets backed Fury to win.

“Tonight’s bout took well in excess of £1m worth of wagers we thought it was a bookies’ benefit right up until the time Tyson KO’d us for a six figure,” said William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly.

It wasn’t only in Europe where Fury’s win reaped dividends. Retired undefeated former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather benefited from the bout, picking up $22,800 after betting $4,800 on the underdog.

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