LOS ANGELES: Deontay Wilder retained his WBC heavyweight crown here Saturday after battling to a split decision draw against Britain’s Tyson Fury in a pulsating 12-round battle.
Wilder had Fury on the canvas twice, including a spectacular final round knockdown, but was unable to get the knockout victory he had promised to deliver at the Staples Center.
The three judges were divided on the outcome, with one scoring it 115-111 for Wilder, another 114-110 for Fury and the third 113-113.
The hard-hitting Wilder knocked Fury down twice, including a brutal right-left combination that sent the towering Fury to the canvas in the 12th in what initially looked to be the end of the fight.
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 in the ninth and the 12th, which all three judges scored 10-8 in favour of the champion. In all the other rounds the fighters were separated by a single point.
Wilder said he thought the battle was over when he saw Fury’s eyes “roll into the back of his head” as he fell hard on his back early in the 12th round.
Wilder at first celebrated with a shimmy only to appear stunned when Fury beat the count and got back on his feet.
Both fighters preserved their unbeaten records with the draw, but both thought they had done enough to earn the victory in the bout, which played out before 17,698 fans in downtown Los Angeles.
“I think with the two knockdowns I definitely won the fight,” said Wilder (40-0-1), adding that he started slow and rushed his punches in a sub-par performance.
“We poured our hearts out tonight. We’re both warriors but with those two drops I think I won the fight,” he said in the ring after the fight.
“When I rush my punches like that I’m never accurate.
“The rematch I guarantee I’m going to get him.”
