Fury Ends Klitschko's Heavyweight Reign

British boxer Tyson Fury has been crowned new world heavyweight champion after a unanimous points win over Wladimir Klitschko.

Ukrainian Klitschko, 39, suffered his first defeat in 11 years.

Fury was awarded the fight in Dusseldorf 115-112, 115-112 and 116-111 by the judges to take Klitschko's WBA, IBF, IBO and WBO belts.

Moments after his win was announced, Fury, 27, said: "You're a great champion Vlad, thanks very much for having me.

"It was all fun and games in the build-up, I just wanted to be confident, young and brash."

He added: "I've always known I would become world heavyweight champion. It's my destiny."

He then burst into a rendition of Aerosmith's hit song I Don't Want To Miss A Thing, dedicating it to his wife and his fans in the UK, Ireland, the US and Germany.

The build-up to the fight had been colourful and controversial, ranging from Fury's appearance at a UK news conference dressed as Batman to threats by the Briton that he would pull out of the contest altogether due to issues over gloves and the ring canvas.

The world of boxing has taken to Twitter to congratulate the new champion.

Former world welterweight champion Ricky Hatton wrote: "Boom. Manchester. @Tyson_Fury xxxx."

Kell Brook, the IBF welterweight champion, tweeted: "Just heard, WOW congratulations to @Tyson_Fury I had kilt to win I hold my hands up! well done unbelievable for British boxing!"

David Haye, former WBA heavyweight champion, said: "What a great ending. Justice prevailed, the better man won. Klit won't exercise the rematch clause he insisted on. Klit is now completely finished. Out with the old, in with the new!"

Former world featherweight champion Barry McGuigan added: "Wow! Another British Heavyweight World Champion. Congratulations Tyson Fury. Britain could dominate this division."

Fury was born in August 1988 three months premature into a family of Irish Traveller heritage in Wythenshawe, Manchester.

His father, who was a gypsy bare-knuckle fighter in the 1980s, named him Tyson after world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.

Fury represented both Ireland and England at amateur level and won the ABA championship in 2008 before turning pro later that year.

In 2011, he told The Independent: "I'm a Gypsy fighter and that means I will never turn away from a proper fight. I don't mean a fat idiot on a (travellers') site somewhere.

"They get a few beers in them and they start thinking they are Tyson or Ali; throwing punches, swearing and jumping around with their big fat bellies. I'd love to knock a few of them out."

On his roots, the born-again Christian has said: "You are born a traveller. You can't make out you're a traveller just like you can't make out that you are black.

"It's my life and it's what I am and even if I had £10m, I could still sleep in a caravan."