Epic Wilder, Fury bout ends in disputed split draw

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American Deontay Wilder retained his WBC heavyweight title after a thrilling split decision draw with Britain's Tyson Fury at Staples Center in Los Angeles, U.S., on Saturday night, leaving both fighters and fans talking up a rematch.

The hard-hitting Wilder knocked Fury down twice, in Rounds 9 and 12, including a brutal right-left combination that sent the towering Fury to the canvas at the third last minute of the bout in what initially looked to be the end of the fight.

Deontay Wilder enters the ring with an ornate costume to fight Tyson Fury during the WBC Heavyweight Championship at Staples Center in Los Angeles, U.S., December 1, 2018. /VCG Photo

But the 'Gypsy King' willed himself to his feet and held on to send the fight to the judges, who rewarded him for controlling much of the fight behind his long jab, precise footwork and slippery defense.

One judge scored the fight 115-111 to Wilder, another 114-112 to Fury and the third had it 113-113.

The scorecards showed that Wilder benefited greatly from his two knockdowns rounds, which all three judges scored 10-8 in favor of the champion. In all the other rounds the fighters were separated by a single point.

Deontay Wilder sends Tyson Fury to the canvas during the WBC Heavyweight Championship bout at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, December 1, 2018. /VCG Photo

Post-match Interview

"I think with the two knockdowns I definitely won the fight," said Wilder (40-0-1, 39KOs), adding that he started slowly and rushed his punches in a sub-par performance.

But former world champion Fury (27-0-1, 19KOs), in just his third bout since a two-and-a-half year absence from the sport following mental health issues and a failed drug test, was convinced he should have walked away with the title.

"We're on away soil, I got knocked down twice, but I still believe I won that fight," said Fury, who out-landed Wilder 84-71 overall.

And Fury also taunted compatriot Anthony Joshua (22-0-0, 21KOs), the undefeated holder of the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO crowns, from the ring.

Anthony Joshua and Alexander Povetkin trade punches during their IBF, WBA Super, WBO & IBO World Heavyweight Championship title fight at Wembley Stadium in London, England, September 22, 2018. /VCG Photo

"We are two great champions," he said. "Me and this man are the two best heavyweights on the planet."

A win for Wilder would have likely set up a blockbuster world heavyweight unification title bout next year against the Briton Joshua, a fight the American has long sought.

Audience's Views

SHOWTIME Boxing launched a vote immediately after the match on Twitter and over 30, 000 netizens joined in. From the beginning of this survey, two times more people supported Fury winning.

Tyson Fury got majority support in his fight against Deontay Wilder in their WBC Heavyweight title bout, December 2, 2018. /Screenshot of SHOWTIME Boxing's twitter

Three-time world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis also expressed his support for the 30-year-old challenger and compared this match to his first fight with Evander Holyfield in 1999, which ended in a controversial draw as well. But eight months after that, Lewis proved himself via a unanimous decision in the rematch.

Former five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., who was at ringside, said in an interview after the first five rounds, "Wilder is depending just on one big shot. As a fighter, you have to use other weapons. Fury uses combinations, has very fast jabs and takes his time. If Wilder doesn't do something else, Fury will win if it goes the distance."

Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder pose for a photo with referee Jack Reiss after fighting to a draw during the WBC Heavyweight Championship at Staples Center in Los Angeles, December 1, 2018. /VCG Photo

Before the match, the odds tended to favor Fury and fewer than 10 percent people bet on a draw. Former WBO middleweight title Billy Joe Saunders of England bet an astonishing 70,000 pounds on Fury that proved to be all ducks and drakes.

(With inputs from Reuters)