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.
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.
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."
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.
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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.”
It's not just about Fury and Wilder tonight (I know right, I can't believe it either).
There is actually quite a tasty undercard.
Luke Brown has done a lovely write-up on it.
You've not seen the BT Sport documentaries on Fury and Wilder, have you?
Don't worry. You've still got time. I've sorted you right out here. Give this a watch in a new tab (don't close this one that wouldn't be very nice). Firstly, here's the story of Deontay Wilder.
And here's the Fury one.
It's fair to say that Tyson Fury has got under the skin of Deontay Wilder over the last week or so.
From pushing and shoving at press conferences to tweeting angry words, the pair haven't exactly seen eye-to-eye. Will the anger just drive the American champion on or will it make him sloppy?
Tonight's fight poses so many big questions...
This is the man with the game plan that could see the Gypsy King walk away from the Staples Centre with the one belt in boxing he has failed to win.
Ben Davison is just 25-years-old but has worked with the likes of Fury and Billy Joe Saunders for little over a year, was the key man in Tyson's weight loss and thus far the pair's relationship has been fruitful.
Tonight is the real acid test though.
In the same arena that Fury risks his reputation and dares to achieve the unthinkable, our man at ringside this evening Luke Brown took a trip back in time for our long reads section, looking at the day Lennox Lewis gambled it all against Vitali Klitschko one last time.
Read it, it's incredible.
The coverage of this evening's undercard gets underway from 11.30pm.
The BT team for it is pretty strong, too. The team of experts are Lennox Lewis, Richie Woodhall and none other than our very own Steve Bunce. The big daddy.
Speaking of Buncey, want to know his prediction for the big one?
Look no further.
Height, weight, records, net worth and how we got here. This is the tale of the tape.
Home advantage is a real thing when it comes to boxing. And despite this bout being in Wilder's home country of America, Fury actually believes he has the home advantage.
“I was in camp and a guy came over and said the Wladimir Klitschko fight was a great fight, and asked me what I was doing over here... I said I was training to fight Deontay Wilder. He said ‘Who’s that guy?’ I told him he was the American world heavyweight champion. He didn’t know him.
“Deontay Wilder, who? I believe Deontay’s thinking he needs to defeat me to give himself some gratification. And what better time to do it when he thinks I’m at my lowest?”
It never stops with Tyson.
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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.
