A draw isn’t always the worst thing.

In any sporting endeavor a match being scored a draw is always met with frustration and sometimes even rage by the onlookers. A draw means that nothing was truly solved and that we’re all back where we started. In the case of this past weekend’s Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury match up, a draw proved to be something else entirely. While you’ll still hear many fans spout off their vitriolic angry rhetoric all across the spectrum, there’s sure to be a contingency that believes the right call was made and I stand firmly in that camp.

Looking at the fight from a round by round basis as Tyson Fury one his fair share of the rounds. But the ninth and twelfth rounds stood out as the most eye catching and important rounds in the fight. While we have to give credit to Fury’s boxing acumen, ignoring the fact that Wilder landed the most damaging shots of the fight, all while being the smaller fighter, would ultimately be a foolish mistake.

Winning rounds is the name of the game in boxing, no doubt about it. Tyson Fury showcased his tactical brilliance and ability to avoid punches. But the goal of a fight is also to cause your opponent the most amount of harm which Wilder was able to pull off in the ninth and twelfth rounds. Those two big rounds, as well as a handful of others swayed that judges in a big way. Tyson Fury should also be commended for his heart and determination, especially after the second knock down which looked to spell certain doom for the “Gypsy King” and his crusade to once again conquer the heavyweight division. Yet, miraculously, Fury found his way to his feet and was able to not only survive until the end of the match, he was able to put up a fight and give Deontay Wilder all he can handle in the waining minutes of the match.

While the result may not have been what many desired, it did showcase the greatest aspects of the sweet science. Both fighters showed tremendous heart, battling back from adversity. It would have been a shame to declare either man a loser because they were truly both winners this past Saturday night. Both men showed respect to each other and are keen for the potential rematch. If we’re lucky the second fight between these two will once again be an amazing watch, this time with a definitive answer. For now, let’s enjoy the fight we received and get excited for the rematch to come.

How did you score Wilder vs Fury?

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Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.