Deontay Wilder retains WBC heavyweight title after playing split draw with Tyson Fury

American professional boxer Deontay Wilder on Sunday successfully defended his World Boxing Council (WBC) World Heavyweight title after playing a split draw against former champion Tyson Fury at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

After maintaining an upper hand over Wilder in most of the fight, Fury was brought down by his American opponent in the ninth and twelfth round to get back into the match.

While one judge awarded the fight to Wilder 115-111, the other had it 114-110 to Fury. The third judge called it a 113-113 draw. Consecutively, the match resulted in a split draw. Both the boxers, however, believed that they are the winner of the bout.

On the one hand, News.com.au quoted Wilder as saying, "I think with the two knockdowns I definitely won the fight."

Fury, on the other hand, said, "We're on away soil, I got knocked down twice - but I still believe I won the fight."

Wilder, who is holding the WBC heavyweight title since 2015, had also bagged a bronze medal on 2008 Beijing Olympics in the heavyweight division.