Deontay Wilder kept hold of his WBC World Heavyweight title after a controversial split decision draw with Tyson Fury despite most people having the British boxer ahead.

Completing an improbable turn from flashy villain to inspirational advocate over the past 11 months, Fury never ran out of gas and looked every bit the prime fighter he was three years ago this week in the last time he appeared in a fight this big when he shocked the world to upset Wladimir Klitschko.

And Manchester United fan Fury had another venue to add to the list, the fighter interrupting Warren to say: "Old Trafford!"

Despite his view of the decision he indicated that a rematch could well be in Las Vegas rather a football ground in England by saying: 'I would have no problem coming back here.

"Tyson's the No1 heavyweight in the world, the people's champion, the victor of that fight".

"I'm not gonna sit here and complain all night, I thought I won the fight", he added. "Fair play to the referee, fantastic, one of the best I have ever experienced".

Of the 39 men to have stepped into the ring in a professional setting with Wilder before tonight's encounter with the Englishman Tyson Fury, only one had made it long enough to hear the final bell.

"I said, 'I'm sorry what's happened to you.' I said, 'But you offer me the fight, ' I said, 'I will not turn it down".

"I thought I won the fight".

But Fury, the self-styled lineal champion after he "beat the man who beat the man", still has claims to that unofficial title.

"I would love for it to be my next fight", Wilder said.

- SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) December 2, 2018Two great champions.

Despite the knockdown it was Fury looking the fresher man and Wilder was unable to take advantage of his 10-8 round in the 10th.

"And he didn't want it for a reason, because Deontay Wilder is the most fearsome puncher in boxing history, in heavyweight division history, and I saw that and I felt it".

But Fury gradually grew in confidence, regularly taunting Wilder by throwing his arms up in the air or behind his back.

He got up. To the astonishment of Wilder, a crowd of 17,698 and just about everybody else - including, it turned out, Fury himself.

Fury's jab did a lot of damage and kept Wilder at bay.

There were plenty more backing Fury on social media. In his worst state, Fury was almost 400 pounds. Judge Phil Edwards and The Associated Press scored it a 113-113 draw, with Wilder's knockdowns compensating for Fury's superior technique.

At the end of the third Wilder's eye had been swollen after decent shots from the former WBA champion, including one right at the end of the round.