Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury couldn?t be split in an incredible split decision draw in their world heavyweight title fight in Los Angeles.
After Fury enjoyed the upperhand for much of the fight, Wilder put him down in the ninth and 12th rounds to rocket back into contention.
One judge awarded the fight to Wilder 115-111, one had it 114-110 to Fury and the other had it a 113-113 draw.
Both men believed they won.
?I think with the two knockdowns I definitely won the fight,? said Wilder, as he retained the WBC title.
?We?re on away soil, I got knocked down twice ? but I still believe I won the fight,? Fury said.
Both will be left wondering what could have been. Fury quickly recovered from the first knockdown in the ninth round but Wilder ? and everyone watching ? were staggered when he climbed off the canvas in the 12th.
But Fury will also rue that final moment of carelessness which stopped him from winning. There?s no doubt the result would have gone his way if he?d managed to stay out of harm?s way in the 12th.
The draw sets up a tantalising rematch and continues the revival of the heavyweight division.
Don?t let the knockdowns fool you, Fury is back in a big way after fighting a battle with his weight and depression in the wake of his win against Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
After two laughable warm-up fights he jumped in the ring with the most dangerous puncher in the division and outboxed him for most of the night.
Wilder lost no currency either. The world knew he had technical flaws but he showed again that his devastating power means he?s never out of a fight.
Anthony Joshua, who holds the other three major belts in the division, looms large for both men.
Wilder v Fury: Round by round
R1: Wilder threw first, unsuccessfully attempting to land some wild shots. Fury was feinting a lot and looked relaxed ? even mocking Wilder by putting his hands down by his waist. He was given a sharp reminder of the American?s power midway through the round but Wilder felt Fury?s punch too. The Gypsy King landed a big right hand that rocked the champ late in the round. Fury 10-9
R2: This time it?s Wilder who lands late in the round with a shot that gets Fury?s attention. Even fight at this point. 19-19
R3: Another close round but Fury arguably shades the American and the longer this go, the better it is for the challenger. Fury 29-28
R4: Fury looking really confident here as he firmly establishes his jab. Wilder managed to clip him late in the round with a swinging right hand that left the Brit bleeding from the nose. Fury 39-37
SHO Stats @SHOStats #ShoStats: Total Jabs Landed/Thrown thru 4 WILDER[8/86, 9%] FURY [17/86, 19%]
4 1:07 PM – Dec 2, 2018 Twitter Ads info and privacy See SHO Stats’s other Tweets Twitter Ads info and privacy R5: Tough round to call. Both fighters? camps seem convinced their man is winning the fight. Wilder did enough to edge that one. Fury 48-47
R6: Wilder has swelling around his left eye after eating plenty of Fury jabs. That?s another Fury round. If he can keep this up for six more rounds he?s champion of the world again. Fury 58-56
R7: Best round of the fight so far. Wilder was busy early before being stood up by a hard one-two from Fury. The right hand was arguably his best punch of the fight. But it ignited Wilder who finally found some aggression and came hard at the challenger. Most of his swings caught air though. Fury 68-65
Chris Mannix ✔ @SIChrisMannix This is some kind of performance by Tyson Fury so far. He?s coming off two laughers that ended a two-plus year layoff. And he?s boxing extremely well.
54 1:19 PM – Dec 2, 2018 Twitter Ads info and privacy 20 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy R8: This is some performance by Fury. He remains respectful of Wilder?s power but makes sure he takes enough risks to land a couple of shots each round that should see him given the nod on the scorecards. ?You can beat him with your left hand alone,? Fury?s trainer Ben Davison tells him in the corner. Fury 78-74
R9: FURY DOWN! Wilder flips the script with a right hand that wobbles Fury and follows up with several shots to the top of the challenger?s head to put him on the canvas. Fury hangs on for dear life while his head clears but has all but recovered by the end of the round as Wilder breathes heavily. What a fight. Fury 86-84
R10: Fury is marked under his right eye but he opens the round with intent to regain control of the fight and dominates the entire three minutes. Wilder looks gassed and can?t afford to be taking rounds off like that. Fury 96-93
R11: Another tight round with neither man doing much in the first minute and a half. Fury has a little more energy though and does enough to take it. Fury 106-102
R12: FURY DOWN! Fury lands a right hand early in the round but with the finish line in sight Wilder pulls a rabbit out of the hat. He puts Fury down again and this time it?s a heavy shot that the challenger struggles to rise from. But Fury gets to his feet and the referee allows him to continue and finish the fight. Incredible. Wilder with the only two knockdowns but Fury may scrape past on the scorecards. We have it Fury 114-112
