Watch: Fury Rises from Dead, Pushes Epic Heavyweight PPV Title Bout to Draw
Tyson Fury dominated long stretches of his heavyweight title bout against Deontay Wilder on Saturday with shifty technique and graceful defense.
He still ended up flat on the canvas in the 12th round, his eyes rolling backward while Wilder celebrated above him.
Fury somehow gathered his wits, rose and made it to the final bell. That’s when both hulking men heard a verdict that didn’t satisfy them, but nearly guaranteed a rematch of this exciting showdown.
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Wilder and Fury fought to a split draw, with Wilder retaining his WBC heavyweight title after knocking down his British challenger twice.
“One hundred percent we’ll do the rematch,” Fury said. “We are two great champions. Me and this man are the two best heavyweights on the planet.”
Wilder (40-0-1) floored Fury (27-0-1) in the ninth and final rounds, yet Fury clearly outboxed Wilder for large portions of their meeting at Staples Center.
Fury appeared to be on his way to a decision victory when he came out for the final round. Yet a minute later, he looked totally finished when Wilder put him on his back with a right-left combination. But Fury rose, summoning strength at the critical moment of his comeback from a 2 ½-year ring absence amid bouts of drug abuse and depression.
“I hope I did you all proud after nearly three years out of the ring,” Fury said. “I was never going to be knocked out tonight. I showed good heart to get up. I came here tonight and I fought my heart out.”
While Wilder kept his belt, Fury remained the unofficial lineal champion of the heavyweight division by virtue of his victory over Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015.
Judge Robert Tapper scored the fight 114-112 for Fury, while Alejandro Rochin favored Wilder 115-111. Judge Phil Edwards and The Associated Press scored it a 113-113 draw, with Wilder’s knockdowns compensating for Fury’s superior technique.
“We gave each other all we’ve got,” Wilder said. “We’re the best in the world. The respect was mutual.”
While both men thought they won, neither was overly upset by the verdict in front of a frenzied Hollywood crowd. They embraced warmly and immediately talked about a rematch in the spring.
“When you get two warriors, you get a great fight,” Wilder said. “That’s what we proved tonight, and I’m ready to do it again.”
Wilder failed to win for the first time since his semifinal bout at the Beijing Olympics, and he failed to knock out his opponent for only the second time in 41 career bouts. Yet the Bronze Bomber showed remarkable resourcefulness and power, avoiding what would have been a decision loss with those two knockdowns.
“We’re both warriors, but with those two drops, I think I won the fight,” Wilder said. “I came out slow. I rushed my punches. I didn’t sit still. I was too hesitant. I started overthrowing the right hand, and I just couldn’t adjust.”
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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