Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder result: Heavyweight fight ends in controversial split decision draw

Report from LA: Heavyweight rivals battle to controversial draw Reaction: Mayweather and Lewis lead criticism of judges Reaction: Fury compared to WWE legend The Undertaker for surviving late knockdown News: Draw costs gamblers a record-high £20m

Tyson Fury gets press to sing American Pie after Deontay Wilder draw

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.

[1 December 2018 02:17 · Adam Hamdani]

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)

[1 December 2018 12:00 · Adam Hamdani]

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.

[1 December 2018 12:27 · Adam Hamdani]

In case you didn't know it, Tyson Fury has finally shaved that beard. 

Tyson Fury looking slick 

[1 December 2018 13:01 · Adam Hamdani]

If you're hoping to put some money on tonight's boxing, I recommend you take a minute to read this before you do.

[1 December 2018 13:30 · Adam Hamdani]

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.

[1 December 2018 14:02 · Adam Hamdani]

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 

[1 December 2018 14:36 · Adam Hamdani]

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.

[1 December 2018 14:40 · Adam Hamdani]

  ↵An excellent read from The Independent's Tom Kershaw on why hunger will trump skill in tonight's bout.

[1 December 2018 15:03 · Adam Hamdani]

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.

[1 December 2018 15:39 · Adam Hamdani]

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.”