Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder result: Heavyweight fight ends in controversial split decision draw
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder battled to a controversial draw in a thrilling WBC heavyweight title fight in Los Angeles.
The British boxer returned from a lengthy lay-off due to drug addiction, alcoholism and mental health problems to the verge of becoming a two-time world champion after an expert display of tactical championship boxing
Wilder's two knockdowns, in the ninth and 12th rounds, dragged him back into a contest he looked all set to lose as he keeps his WBC strap after an eighth title defence. Follow the latest reaction below.
Please allow a moment for the blog to load
BT Sport Box Office will exclusively show Wilder v Fury on December 1st, available to buy for just £19.95, find out more at www.bt.com/sportboxoffice.
Lennox Lewis sums up Tyson Fury's last two years pretty, pretty well here.
One thing is clear - and I'm not sure how much he cares about the route, but Deontay Wilder wants to unify the heavyweight division.
It would be rather controversial if he didn't fight Fury again considering how most people thought the fight went, so if he does take the rematch, he'll have quite the obstacle ahead of him before being able to get to Anthony Joshua (should he still have the belts).
"I would love to go for the other titles. I want to unify the division. The one who unifies the division really brings boxing back. The heavyweight division is too small to have this many champions. It makes the division more interesting to have one champion. And all the competitors come up and try to fight this one champion.
"It is no secret I have been trying to fight Joshua. But those guys have other plans so let’s so what happens. So I am happy either or, I’m happy to fight Joshua or rematch Fury. It’s a win win situation. Let’s see what we do next."
The judge who scored tonight's bout as 115-111 in favour of Deontay Wilder also gave the American the first four rounds.
To note: I had it 3-1 Tyson Fury after four rounds.
Tyson Fury's trainer Ben Davison had this to say after the fight
"Floyd Mayweather has walked out of this arena disgusted. That says it all."
Well then.
Ben Davison
"To take something away from someone that’s come from hell and back, to ruin the biggest comeback in boxing history, probably in sporting history, that is a disgrace.
"Honestly disgraceful. Everybody in boxing knows Tyson’s story and we weren’t asking for any bias, we wanted and fair crack of the whip, that’s all we asked for from start to finish and we haven’t got that.”
It wasn't just Tyson Fury who was hit hard by his controversial draw with Deontay Wilder.
Lennox Lewis, speaking to iFL TV after Fury vs Wilder, had this to say on the fight
"It's so hard to win in America. It wasn't a split. I think Tyson Fury won all the way. I think Deontay got exposed a little bit. Second time round it's going to be a different fight. I'm glad the world got to see two good heavyweights box and they can decide who the best is.
"I was shocked that he got up [from 12th round knockdown]. The reason why he got hit and went down in the first place, you have to look at what he's gone through. 50lbs of weight loss, two years out of the ring. Obviously if he gets touched on the back of the head, he's going to go down because he's not used to those punches. Now he's used to them, he's taken Deontay's best shots and got up from it. The second time round I don't think Deontay's going to hurt him that easily."
Some breaking news from ESPN's Dan Rafael, who says that Adonis Stevenson is in critical condition in a Quebec hospital.
Stevenson was beaten by Oleksandr Gvozdyk in what was a brutal 11th round knockout, losing the WBC and lineal light heavyweight titles.
Our thoughts are with him.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments