Tyson Fury has cracked America after controversial Deontay Wilder draw ‘sets heavyweight division alive again’

Tyson Fury's controversial draw with Deontay Wilder will make him a major star in America - just like Lennox Lewis.

Former manager Kellie Maloney watched in disbelief as Fury suffered a carbon-copy of the judging robbery suffered by Lewis against Evander Holyfield.

But she says the uproar will help make Fury's name in the USA as it did with Lewis who went on to beat Holyfield in a re-match and become undisputed world heavyweight champion.

Maloney said: "I couldn't believe my eyes as I watched the Fury fight on TV. It was a complete flashback. A real case of deja vu. It all came flooding back to me.

"But the row about the draw made Lennox a bigger name in the USA and they will all be talking about Fury over there now. They will all want to see a re-match with Wilder. They've set the heavyweight division alive again."

Fury's challenge for Wilder's WBC belt in Los Angeles was ruled all square as a split draw.

Canadian judge Robert Tapper scored it 114-111 to Fury and Mexican Alejandr Rochin declared it 115 -111 in favour of Wilder - with Englishman Phil Edwards confirming the draw at 113-113.

The same fate hit reigning WBC champion Lewis at New York's Madison Square Garden in March, 1999 in his first world title unification clash with Holyfield, who held the WBA and IBF titles.

There was mayhem after American judge Eugenia Williams scored it 115-113 for Holyfield and South African Stanley Christodoulou handed in his card 116-113 to Lewis, with Englishman Larry O'Connell calling it level at 115-115.

The row made front page news in the city with even Mayor Rudi Giuliani chipping in to call the result "a travesty" against Lewis, while heavyweight great George Foreman branded it "a shame."

The sanctioning bodies immediately ordered a re-match and Lewis won on points in Las Vegas the following November - watched by a travelling army of 10,000 Brits.

Kellie, 64, was known as Frank during 13 years as manager of Londoner Lewis but underwent gender re-assignment surgery in 2014.

She added: "There has even been an English judge scoring the Fury fight a draw just as there was with Lennox.

"I remember standing in the ring at Madison Square Garden waiting for the result - and it was Larry O'Connell's score read out last to make it a draw, just as it was with Fury and Phil Edwards.

"Lennox was already a name in America because he was world champion but most people there agreed that he had been robbed and it made the re-match huge. Holyfield was a national hero so it made massive news. New York went crazy.

"Now this is history repeating itself totally.

"There was only one winner that night in New York - Lennox. And there was only one winner in LA - Fury.

"There will have to be a re-match. It is the fight everyone wants to see now. They have shifted the ground in the heavyweight division with this result. Anthony Joshua will be on the back-burner for a while now.

"Las Vegas will be biting their hands off to stage the return because it will be big in the USA and they know thousands of Brits will go out for it.

"This is the first time I have been excited about a heavyweight fight since the Lewis days.

"We have big stadium fights here but if Vegas want it, you can't beat them."

Maloney insisted that Fury gave Wilder a boxing lesson but was disappointed in the American's tactics - although Wilder has since revealed that he suffered a broken arm during training camp.

She added: "Wilder was just trying to throw big right hands and nothing else. Why didn't they tell him to work behind the jab?

"It was poor. He was just relying on one punch.

"Lennox had a big right hand but it always came after a jab. That's why he was so good.

"Fury was very clever and gave Wilder a lesson in trickery. And I was surprised how fit Tyson was after all his problems.

"If Fury had thrown more punches he could have stopped him

"He looks unbeatable already. If he worked the jab more, nobody could live with him.

"My only worry is about him staying disciplined. I didn't like hearing his trainer say that they now needed a long rest. I would have him back in the gym after a week to keep him focussed."