By Lem Satterfield

Lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury’s father, John, expressed a positivity in the wake of his son’s draw with WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, who scored ninth- and 12th-round knockdowns but failed to earn his eighth knockout in as many title defenses last Saturday at The Staples Center in Los Angeles on Showtime Pay-Per-View.

The 6-foot-9 “Gypsy King” (27-0-1, 19 KOs) displayed “the best effort you’ll see from anybody in any field of sport” in rising from the canvas to finish the fight, and the 6-foot-7 “Bronze Bomber” (40-0-1, 39 KOs) earned more money toward affording the medical expenses for his daughter, Naieya, who has adjusted superbly despite being born on March 20, 2005 with the congenital disorder spina bifida and being told she might never walk.

“Let me say, first of all, that’s the best effort you’ll see from anybody in any field of sport. What an effort. What a display of courage and heart. Yes, he got a draw, but let me say that when I seen my son get knocked down heavily like he did, I’d have settled for the draw, then. So all things happen for reasons,” said John Fury, during an interview with British Boxing Television.

“I do know that Deontay Wilder has a sick child, and treatment in America is very expensive. So now [Wilder] can go on, earn a living and keep his daughter in good hands, and get the treatment she deserves. That’s a good thing coming out of the draw. And another thing, both men are healthy, and they can go back home to their families with everything in tact, and that’s the main thing.”

Judge Robert Tapper scored the fight for Fury, 114-112, Alejandro Rochin had it for Wilder, 115-111 and Phil Edwards had it even, 113-113.

A BoxingScene.com poll of 14 insiders broke down as six for Fury, three for Wilder and five even.

But beyond the controversial ending, the fight has been the subject of many a water cooler conversation.

“It’s the sport of boxing, and the only winners were the paid public. No one can say, this time, they were ripped off by the pay per view buy. That was the best effort from any athlete you’ll ever see,” said John Fury.

“Deontay Wilder played his part as well. He was there all night, and he believed in his power right until the end. was there as well. He believed in his power. I did not believe in his power, but I believe in it now. Believe me, I do.”