Wilder, Fury fight to a draw

After all the trash talk you could imagine during the build-up of the fight, it ended up with huge respect. That's boxing.

Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder fought to a draw on Saturday night at the Staples Center, in Los Angeles. It was an entertaining action fight that produced breathtaking knockdown. A match-up of two different interesting styles.

Wilder (40-0-1, 39 KOs) scored two crucial knockdowns that saved him from a clear decision loss. Wilder knocked Fury down in Round 9 and Round 12.  Judge Alejandro Rochin scored 115-111 for Wilder. Robert Tapper saw it 114-112 in favor of Fury, while Phil Edwards scored 113-113, a draw.

It was a sweeping first three rounds for Fury, (27-0-1, 19 KOs) as he landed clear combinations, while Wilder is looking for a home run shot. Fury was able to duck, feint and roll those heavily loaded shots from Wilder. He was quick and not committing so much with his punches to avoid counters.

Wilder, most likely took Round 4 as he connected clear right hands He lanced a hard shot that blooded Fury's nose in the same round. But the succeeding four rounds could be all Fury as he landed double jabs and short hooks to the head.

In Round 9, Wilder landed a hard right knocking down Fury. The knockdown was really a confidence booster for Wilder as he's obviously behind the scorecards. But that was certainly not enough.

In the 12th Round, Wilder dropped Fury with a huge right hand and followed it up with a left while Fury was on his way down. From the looks of it, it was certainly over. He fell heavily on the floor, but Fury stood up like the "Undertaker" and continue to wrestle.

In the end, all three judges had different conclusions and resulted in a split draw.

"I think with the two knockdowns, I definitely won the fight," Wilder said. "We poured our hearts out tonight. We're both warriors, but with those two drops, I think I won the fight."

Fury also felt he won the fight.

"We're on away soil. I got knocked down twice, but I still believe I won that fight," Fury said. "I'm being a total professional here. I went to Germany to fight Klitschko, and I went to America to fight Deontay Wilder. God bless America. The 'Gypsy King' has returned.

"That man is a fearsome puncher, and I was able to avoid that. The world knows I won the fight."