Tyson Fury draws against Deontay Wilder leaving boxing world furious over ‘robbery’ of heavyweight title
Gypsy King was on verge of greatest comeback in sport after battling depression, alcohol and drug abuse but fell short with controversial decision
TYSON FURY was robbed of one of the greatest comebacks in history when his WBC heavyweight title fight against Deontay Wilder in Los Angeles was scored a draw.
The judges ruled the contest a draw, after harsh scores of 115-111, 112-114 and 113-113, despite the Gypsy King impressively out-boxing the defending champion, who retains his title.
Fury, who battled back from depression, drug and alcohol abuse, was first knocked down in the ninth, and again in the 12th when he appeared out cold, but he returned to his feet and recovered enough to survive to the final bell.
After the fight Fury, 30, said everyone in the Staples Centre in Los Angeles could see he had won.
He said: “We’re on away soil, I got knocked down twice but I still believe I won the fight and I believe every man in here thought I won that fight tonight.
“But I’m showing total professionalism here, I’m a true champion and a true warrior. I went to Germany to fight Klitschko, I’ve come to America to fight Deontay Wilder. Bless Deontay Wilder, he’s a top fighting man.
“I was never going to be knocked out tonight. I got put down with some good shots, I showed good heart to get up. I came here tonight and I fought my heart out.”
Fury believes he and Wilder are the two best fighters in the blue riband division, pointedly sending a message to British rival – and IBF, WBA and WBO beltholder – Anthony Joshua.
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Fury added: “We’ll do the rematch but we’re going to go away, recalculate, see what’s going to happen.
“We are two great champions. Never mind an anybody, me and this man here are the two greatest heavyweights on the planet.
“I stepped up after the amount of time I had out the ring, there’s another certain heavyweight out there. [He’s a] chicken – Joshua, where are you AJ?”
Fury ballooned to 28st after beating Wladimir Klitschko to claim three belts in 2015.
He remarkably shed 10st for his fight against Wilder – and was by far the better boxer.
The judges’ controversial split decision – with Brit Phil Edwards awarding the draw – left boxing fans fuming.
Mexico-born Alejandro Rochin incredibly scored the fight 115-111 in favour of Wilder.
British legend Lennox Lewis said: “They need to get some good judges, these judges were terrible. I had Fury miles clear.
“It happened to me and I knew it was going to happen to Tyson. Everybody could see who won. Tyson Fury won the fight and was leading on all cards.”
Fury’s trainer Ben Davison said: “They just took away the best comeback in sport history. You’ve got to be a sick, sick man to do that.
“I’m sick and gutted. You have got to be a sick person to do that to a man like Tyson.”
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said: “I thought Tyson won it by at least three rounds. How the judge gave it the way he gave it I do not know, terrible.
“It’s a draw but everybody knows Tyson won it. One of those judges got it terribly wrong.”