Fury-Wilder battle to controversial draw

In a classic heavyweight battle featuring drama, elite skills, and a little controversy, Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder and Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury fought to a split-decision draw Saturday night at Staples Center in Los Angeles​.​

After Fury (27-0-1, 19 KOs) controlled much of the WBC World Championship fight early, Wilder (40-0-1, 39 KOs) staged a furious late rally to tighten the scorecards, scoring two knockdowns, including one in Round 12 that nearly ended the fight.  The fact that Fury actually stood up from that latter knockdown was a miracle in itself, as he barely beat the ten count.

Boxing analyst Al Bernstein said watching Fury get up and continue to fight after the brutal knockdown was “one of the most astonishing things I’ve ever seen in the boxing ring.”

The judges scored the bout 115-111 for Wilder, 114-112 for Fury, and 113-113, and therein lies the controversy, as the pro-Wilder score seemingly ignored Fury's strong work in early rounds of the fight.

Showtime boxing historian and commentator Steve Farhood had Fury winning rounds 3-8, and ultimately scored the fight in his favor, 115-111.  The Daily Sports Herald also scored the fight for Fury.

“I think with the two knockdowns I definitely won the fight,” said Wilder, who has recorded a knockdown in each of his 41 pro fights and was defending his WBC belt for the eighth time since 2015. “We poured our hearts out tonight. We’re both warriors, but with those two drops I think I won the fight.”

​Fury saw it differently, stating that he gave it everything he had.

“We’re on away soil, I got knocked down twice, but I still believe I won that fight,” said England’s Fury, whose amazing comeback continues following a two-and-a-half-year absence from the sport.​ “I hope I did you all proud after nearly three years out of the ring.  I was never going to be knocked down tonight.  I showed good heart to get up. I came here tonight and I fought my heart out.​"​

It was an electrifying night in front of 17,698 fans, including Shaquille O’Neal, Jerry West, Michael Strahan, Michael Irvin, Evander Holyfield, and Floyd Mayweather (who stated he scored the first five rounds for Fury).

Fury, fighting for the third time this year with 26-year-old trainer Ben Davison in his corner, also had former boxing champion Ricky Hatton and seven-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach in his corner.

Fury outlanded Wilder 84-71 overall, and was surprisingly sharp for someone who had fallen drastically out of shape during his long layoff.  He boxed effectively and eluded punches throughout the fight, as Wilder not only grew tentative, but also continually missed his haymakers whenever he actually decided to throw.  As such, Fury controlled most of the early rounds with his ring generalship.

Wilder said he came out slow and rushed his punches. “I didn’t sit still. I was too hesitant. I started overthrowing the right hand and I just couldn’t adjust.”

Wilder finally turned things around a bit when he caught Fury with a short right hand just behind the left ear to drop him for the third time in his career in the ninth round.  Fury rebounded from the knockdown quite well however, reverting back to the effective boxing in Rounds 10 and 11 that he had displayed earlier in the fight.

Then in the 12th, a massive Wilder right hand and left hook combination sent the 6'9" Fury down again, hitting his head on the canvas. Again, he managed to ​stand​ up and referee Jack Reiss let him continue to fight.

Because of a rematch clause, both fighters were asked if they would like to do it again. “I would love for it to be my next fight,” Wilder said. “Why not? Let’s give the fans what they want to see.  It was a great fight and let’s do it again. It doesn’t matter to me where we do it.”

Fury quickly agreed as well.

“​One hundred​ percent we’ll do the rematch,” said Fury, fighting in the first heavyweight title pay-per-view bout in America since 2002. “We are two great champions. Me and this man are the two best heavyweights on the planet.”

The Undercard

In the lead-up fight to Wilder-Fury, Jarrett Hurd (23-0, 16 KOs) defended his 154-pound IBF and WBA world title belts with a fourth-round knockout against United Kingdom’s James Welborn (24-7, 7 KOs), who was fighting for the first time on American soil.

Welborn was the aggressor in the first minute of the fourth round, sending Hurd to the ropes with punch after punch to the body and head. Suddenly realizing he might be in trouble, Hurd countered back from sudden adversity in dramatic fashion and sent Welborn back-tracking before a devastating body punch sent him to one knee. He was counted out at 1:55 by referee Lou Moret, who was officiating the final fight of his 30-plus year career.

After the fight, undefeated super welterweight Jermell Charlo entered the ring to challenge for Hurd’s coveted belts. “We definitely want Charlo,” Hurd told reporter Jim Gray, saying the matchup would likely occur after one more fight. “I’m calling the shots. I’m No. ​1​ right now. When I say answer the phone, answer the phone. I got the date.”

Charlo shot back. “This is easy money. I like those belts – they look real good on you. He said he wants another fight. I’m ready now.”

Hurd, who unified the WBA and IBF belts by beating WBA champion Erislandy Lara in April in Las Vegas, was returning with a surgically repaired left shoulder. He threw 118 jabs, more than half of the 220 punches he threw in the fight.

“I’m just coming off surgery so I wanted to see how I worked off the jab,” Hurd said. “I felt good I was working behind the jab I got caught on the ropes and got caught with some shots and said ‘that’s enough. He got enough TV time.’ I heard the crowd and I didn’t want to get brave. So I turned it up and got the knockdown.​"​

Former Wilder foe and heavyweight southpaw Luis “King Kong” Ortiz (30-1, 26 KOs) returned to Staples Center​ for a second consecutive victory with a resounding 10th-round TKO against Travis “My Time” Kauffman (32-3, 23 KOs) of Reading, Pa.

The 39-year-old Ortiz of Camaguey, Cuba, registered left-cross knockdowns in the sixth, eighth, and 10th rounds before the final blow coming later in the 10th round against a gritty Kauffman. It was the 26th career stoppage for Ortiz, who lost to Wilder in a Fight of the Year candidate back in March.

The fight was officially called at 1:58 of the 10th round.

“I’m a warrior,” Ortiz said. “Nothing contains me. We didn’t have to knock him out but we wanted to show everything we have in our repertoire, and we showed it tonight.”

Ortiz, who was warned twice for low blows, clipped Kauffman for a second time with a lethal left hand at 2:29 in the eighth round. But just like the first time he was sent to canvas, Kauffman was able to get up and continue fighting.

The technically sound performance by Ortiz included 376 jab attempts to Kauffman's 99. That led to a 135-37 lead in total connects and a 69-30 margin in power connects against Kauffman, who commentator Paulie Malignaggi called, “a stubborn guy who wouldn’t go away.”

“Of course I’ll fight the winner of this fight [Wilder-Fury],” Ortiz said. “I want that second fight with Wilder. I want to fight anybody.”

In the ​pay-per-view​ telecast opener, Joe “The Juggernaut” Joyce (7-0, 7 KOs) recorded a massive first-round knockout against Joe “The Future” Hanks (23-3, 15 KOs). A rising heavyweight, Joyce, from London, England, ended the fight officially after just 2:25, as he used a right jab to set up a near-perfect left hook sending Hanks to the canvas and down for the count.

Trained by noted trainer Abel Sanchez, Joyce told Gray he’s ready for anyone. “I want to get in some bigger fights,” said the former Olympic silver medal winner who recorded his fourth first-round KO. “I’ve been doing well so there is plenty more to come. All the support from back home in England, thanks for coming. I hope I put on something good to watch.”

It was the second win in the United States for Joyce, who also picked up the vacant WBA Continental heavyweight title. “I’m getting people out quickly,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of experience, I’m just going to improve on my strength and my speed. I’ve heard comments that I’m slow but I seem to land the shots and get the job done.”

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services