Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder press conference - as it happened: Fighters reaction after heavyweight clash ends in draw
The two fighters took to the podium to give their takes on a thrilling fight
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Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury were both left stunned after their incredible split decision draw in Los Angeles
Wilder, who retains his WBC heavyweight world title, twice sent Fury to the canvas late into the fight only for the challenger to pick himself up and salvage the draw.
He had dominated the early rounds and looked set for another historic victory before Wilder grew in confidence and connected with extraordinary shots in the ninth and final round. Watch live coverage and follow our news updates below.
Report
On his long and painful road back to the summit of the heavyweight division, Tyson Fury has survived sinking sixteen pints of Stella a day, a cocaine addiction, a doping scandal and an aborted attempt to kill himself. Add to that list, a pair of Deontay Wilder’s feared overhand rights, which twice relegated Fury to the canvas in a wild ninth round. But Fury picked himself up to draw this most chaotic of heavyweight fights, and in doing so climbed to impossible new heights.
This was a script so plainly implausible that even the well-heeled luvvies who had travelled down from Hollywood Hills turned for the exits scarcely able to comprehend what they had just witnessed. The end result: a split decision draw that sees Wilder retain his WBC heavyweight world title, after Fury dominated the early rounds only for Wilder to twice catch him late on — first in the ninth and then in the twelfth.
Neither man was happy with the outcome. A rematch is not just a formality — but a must. READ MORE.
Tyson Fury's professional boxing record:
27 fights
27 wins
19 KOs
The last three have taken just under three years
Francesco Pianeta (UD)
Sefer Seferi (RTD, fourth round)
Wladimir Klitschko (UD)
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder. We'll have updates throughout the entire evening from the undercard to the main event all the way through to the last words of the post-fight press conferences.
I'll (Adam Hamdani) be leading the majority of tonight's coverage and bring you round-by-round updates of the WBC heavyweight title main event, while Luke Brown will be live at ringside reporting and giving his thoughts.
For now, this is everything you need to know about the big one.
In case you didn't know it, Tyson Fury has finally shaved that beard.
Tyson Fury looking slick
If you're hoping to put some money on tonight's boxing, I recommend you take a minute to read this before you do.
Team Fury drafted in none other than legendary trainer Freddie Roach for the biggest fight of Tyson's 'comeback'. He openly admitted he has spies in Wilder's camp.
“He's getting under Wilder's skin,” Roach said. “He definitely rattled him, more verbally than anything. I expect this guy to come out firing and that works for us because our counter is to fire back. Tyson is quick and he will catch Wilder.
“I think Wilder is going to come and try to kill him and if Wilder walks into that one-two he's dead. This could be an early one.
“What I will say though is that anyone who underestimates Tyson Fury is a fool.
“And you know what? I've had two guys in Wilder's training camp giving me reports from there – and he's not ready for this fight.
“Have they underestimated Fury? Big time. They don't know what they're in for.”
Wowsers.
One man who travelled over to Big Bear and was a key sparring partner of Fury's was British cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie.
The 25-year-old was brought in to help Fury prepare for the 'similar' Wilder - and opened up on the experience.
"You have to box, you have to do clever stuff, so it was really good. I was never put in a box and I was able to be myself.
"It varied from day to day, depending on what they wanted to get out of it. Some days it was one in, one out, other days I did three, four or five rounds.
"What surprised me the most was his fluidity as a heavyweight. He can switch orthodox, switch southpaw, move left, move right, back, forward, he is a very, very good, athletic mover."
Fury's sparring partners
It's fair to say that pretty much no one has any idea what's going to happen when it comes to Fury vs Wilder. It's dividing everyone. Including the Indy sport desk. Take a look at our (expert and non-expert) predictions. Then let us know what you think is going to happen in the comment section below.
↵An excellent read from The Independent's Tom Kershaw on why hunger will trump skill in tonight's bout.
Fury vs Wilder is a fight that is going to earn a lot of people a lot of money. Not least the two men who will be alone in the squared ring together. This is how much they'll be making. I'm not the least bit envious.
If Fury manages to complete the fairy-tale tonight, there'll be a rematch between he and Wilder. That is for certain. What's not for certain is what happens should Wilder retain his belt.
What would make most sense for the division, and for the Alabama-man, would be to take the next step and make the fight everyone wants to see: Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder.
It's a fight that would be for every single belt in boxing's blue-riband division. But negotiations for it have caused, let's say, issues.
Frank Warren believes that whoever wins out of Fury and Wilder will become the no 1 heavyweight in the world.
“Whoever wins this fight – they’re the No 1. Anthony Joshua’s in the slipstream,” Warren said. “These guys had the balls to stand up and make the fight. They did what he [Joshua] wouldn’t do.”
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