In a stunner, the WBC heavyweight title fight between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury was ruled a draw. USA TODAY Sports' Martin Rogers breaks down how it happened with a round-by-round analysis of the bout.
Decision: No one will be complaining if we get a rematch after this stunning fight. Wilder and the entire crowd thought it was over in Round 12 when Tyson Fury hit the deck. Wilder's fiancee even yelled out congratulations. But it wasn't over, and surely Fury did more than enough, despite the knockdowns, to come out on top. Wilder did not raise his arms as the bell rang. Looks like he knows what is coming.
BUT NO!
THE FIGHT IS SCORED A DRAW!! Scandalous judging and a huge black eye for boxing. Split decision, with one judge scoring it for each fighter and a third having it as a 113-113 draw. What an embarrassing way for a magnificent fight to end. Wilder got very lucky here and despite what he is now saying, he knows it. Let's hope we see it again.
Here is how the action unfolded.
Round 12: Oh my word! Fury, totally in control, gets blasted to the canvas with a massive right and a clubbing left! his head bounces off the canvas! He's not going to get up! But he does, just in the nick of time. Wilder looks to finish. Fury is out on his feet. It is only a matter of time. But Fury holds on, and his head is starting to clear. Wilder is loading up. One more huge shot will finish it. Fury is getting his legs back. Great action. Incredible fight. Fury is landing a couple of punches in the final minute. The bell rings. 10-8 Wilder. 115-111 Fury on my card.
Round 11: Fury continues to stick to the game plan and Wilder still has no response. It has been a heck of a performance from Fury and there is only one way Wilder can save his unbeaten record, by securing a knockout. Fury's jab is long and precise and Wilder can't get inside it. 10-9 Fury. Fury leads 107-101.
Round 10: Strong response from Fury following his worst round of the fight. Wilder was determined to get stuck in, but Fury's head had completely cleared and he asserted himself with a feinting jab followed by fierce straight shots. Wilder is not enjoying this. Fury's feet still moving briskly. Wilder landed one of 39 punches in the round, extraordinary. 10-9 Fury. Fury leads 97-92.
Round 9: Fury's corner says before the round that Wilder "isn't smart enough" to work out this puzzle. Maybe, but he's strong enough perhaps! Fury goes down!! Fury was taunting Wilder, who stung his with a straight one to the chin, then followed up with two more telling shots. Fury gets up at nine and then holds on. Fury recovers late in the round and starts to taunt again. Wilder full of confidence, suddenly. What a fight. 10-8 Wilder. Fury leads 87-83.
Round 8: Fury is taunting Wilder, while bamboozling him at the same time. This is how it went when Fury stunned Klitschko in Dusseldorf three years ago, putting on a remarkable showcase of boxing. Wilder can't get inside, and is getting totally outthought at distance. Fury connects with a couple of strong jabs and just seems to be a step quicker. 10-9 Fury. Fury leads 79-73.
Round 7: We are getting to the point where Deontay Wilder's only hope is to land one, huge, fight-changing blow. His hooks are getting wider and wider, and Fury is slipping out of trouble easily and countering strongly. Fury's jab is keeping his rival at bay. Wilder gets cuffed on the side of the head by a counter punch late in the round. His power is being blunted. 10-9 Fury. Fury leads 69-64.
Round 6: Wilder continues to struggle, just can't get anything landed cleanly. Wilder blinks after being stung, but not rocked, by a sharp straight shot early in the round. Fury looks too big and lumbering to be mobile, but he is speedy enough to stay out of danger. Showtime has Fury well ahead and I agree. 10-9 Fury. Fury leads 59-55.
Round 5: Floyd Mayweather just said he thinks Fury is leading 5-0 in rounds and it is easy to see why. Who knows how the judges will call it - this is boxing, after all - but Fury is in charge and is avoiding Wilder's best shots. Wilder continues to look for the big bomb but he seems in danger of running out of ideas. Fury clips him with a strong left and right cross toward the end of the round. If Fury had been more active he would have won the round clearly, as it is he edges it. 10-9 Fury. Fury leads 49-46.
Round 4: Looks like a trickle of blood from Fury's nose but he is controlling the action. Wilder is letting go with some big shots but hardly anything is landing. Showtime says his connection rate is 16 percent, compared to 53 percent in his previous title bouts. If there was any doubt about Fury's ability to come back to fitness, it has been answered so far. 10-9 to Fury. Fury leads 39-37.
Round 3: Traveling fans are happy after a strong third from Fury. His movement and taunting bothered Wilder there, much like it did when he upset Wladimir Klitschko. Fury far more accurate with his straight shots, Wilder firing and missing too often for his liking. 10-9 Fury. Fury leads 29-28 after three.
Round 2: Tight round in which Fury stayed at safe distance for the most part. But Wilder got in two good strikes in the closing seconds and probably did enough to shade the round. Entertaining stuff so far. Everything to play for. 10-9 Wilder. 19-19 on after two.
Round 1: Really entertaining first round that starts with plenty of clowning from Fury, mixed in with some rangy jabs that hit the mark. Wilder is struggling to get settled, being confronted with unorthodox angles. Wilder more confident throwing leather in the final minute, but gets caught by a Fury counter. First round to the visitor. 10-9 Fury. Fury leads 10-9.
Pre-fight: Plenty of noise in the building, but most of it is for Fury. British boxing is going through a serious boom and that country's fight fans have always traveled in numbers, especially for the likes of Ricky Hatton and Lennox Lewis. Must feel like a home fight for Fury in some ways, Wilder will try to silence them - and quickly. Both men are now in the ring, Fury goofing around as he entered the arena, followed by Wilder, wearing a sparkling gold crown and matching face mask.
