TOMMY FURY made a laboured winning return to the ring after close to two years on the sidelines.
The former star made his ring return in on Friday night.
Nerves would’ve been jangling for Fury before he made his ring walk due to his 18-month hiatus.
But he outboxed his Bosnian bruiser of an opponent to pick up his first win since his narrow victory over KSI in October 2023 via unanimous decision and move to a perfect 11-0.
opted for a cautious approach in the opening stanza, throwing several probing jabs behind feints.
Hanjalic was all too happy to operate on the back foot and strategically blitz Fury.
Fury’s speed advantage was apparent in the second, with his in-and-out movement frustrating Hanjalic.
The jab continued to be Fury’s best weapon as Hanjalic struggled with its speed.
Although he easily got out of the way of several telegraphed right hands.
Fury allowed Hanjalic back into the fight by taking his foot off the gas.
And the Bosnian was all too happy to close the distance and work in the clinch.
Fury looked to let his hands go in the third but found himself engaged in yet more energy-sapping clinches.
An accidental low blow from Fury brought about a pause in the action, much to the frustration of dad John.
A bloodied Hanjalic recovered from the foul but looked like he wanted out after the restart.
Fury had his dome rattled midway through the fourth by a hellacious right hand.
But Hanjalic’s good work was undone seconds later when he had a point deducted.
Fury’s best shot of the fight came moments later in the form of a left hook.
But he failed to capitalise with a follow-up shot, which Hanjalic called for.
Conerman John urged Tommy to “relax with his shots moments before the fifth round.
And his son obliged in the few moments he wasn’t caught up in a Hanjalic clinch.
Rather than look to put a stamp on the fight, Fury opted to operate on the back foot and look for counters.
That invited yet more pressure from Hanjalic, who was shaken to his core by a big right hand seconds after a body shot.
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