DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) - Tyson Fury defeated Wladimir Klitschko by unanimous decision to end the Ukrainian's 9 1/2-year reign as heavyweight champion on Saturday and take his WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight titles.
After a bruising encounter that ended with cuts near both of Klitschko's eyes, referee Tony Weeks went to the judges' scorecards.
Cesar Ramos and Raul Caiz Sr. scored it 115-112 each, while Ramon Cerdan had it 116-111 in favor of the undefeated Briton (25-0, 18 KO).
Fury, 12 years younger than the 39-year-old Klitschko, taunted and baited the champion at various stages, prompting jeers from fans at the 55,000-seat soccer stadium in Duesseldorf.
Klitschko (64-4, 53 KO), contesting his 28th title fight, was cautious until attempting a recovery in the final rounds, but suffered his first defeat since April 2004.
"The speed was missing. Reach played a big role. I tried but it didn't work," said Klitschko, who at 1.98-meters (6-foot-6), was in the unusual position of facing someone taller in the 2.09-meter (6-foot-9) Fury. Fury, who weighed in at 112 kilograms (247 pounds) also had half-kilo (1.1 pound) weight advantage.
Klitschko, the premier heavyweight of his era, relinquished the IBF belt he had held since 2006, the WBO title he'd owned since 2008, and the WBA crown he'd had since 2011.
The other major belt, the WBC title, was held by Deontay Wilder of the U.S. That was vacated in 2013 by Klitschko's older brother Vitali, the current mayor of Kiev, Ukraine.
"I've said some stupid things," an emotional Fury said of his pre-fight talk and antics. "Wladimir, you're a great champion and thanks for having me. It was all fun and games in the buildup."
The buildup had seen Fury dressing as Batman, serenading Klitschko, goading him and insulting him, and even complimenting him on his scent.
Earlier Saturday, Fury threatened to call off the bout unless an issue with the canvas being too soft was resolved.
There were also issues over gloves and glove-wrapping. Vitali Klitschko oversaw Fury's glove-wrapping, but the Fury camp was incensed when the younger Klitschko wrapped the gloves without any of them present. That spat was resolved when he agreed to re-wrap.
Fury was itching to go from the start, and he ran into the first round to put Klitschko off kilter. The Briton also goaded Klitschko during and after the round.
Fury then landed a big right on Klitschko in the fifth, when he opened a small cut under his right eye, and taunted him again.
The Briton's intensity seemed to drop as Klitschko improved, but still he needled him in the seventh, when he urged Klitschko to "come on" and baited him with his hands behind his back, prompting more jeers.
Klitschko replied to an uppercut in the ninth with a big right of his own, before Fury was warned for punching the back of his head. But then he had Klitschko in trouble in the corner.
Klitschko needed a response, and sought it in the 10th, by which time there was blood coming from his left eye, too.
Fury had a point deducted for hitting behind the head in the 11th and both fighters gave their all in a furious final round before raising their arms in celebration. The Fury camp's celebrations seemed more sincere.