Split draw

A split draw is an outcome in several full-contact combat sports, including boxing, mixed martial arts, and other sports involving striking. In a split draw, one of the three judges scores the contest in favor of one fighter, another judge scores it in favor of the other fighter, and the third judge scores the contest as a draw. The decision is announced as a draw.

Examples of split draws are the March 1999 heavyweight championship match between Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis, the September 2017 middleweight championship match between Canelo Álvarez and Gennady Golovkin and the December 2018 heavyweight championship match between Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury.

One of the most controversial split draws in all of combat sports history occured on June 12, 1989 at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. Before a worldwide Tv audience, it was the most anticipated boxing rematch of the year as Thomas Hearns faced Sugar Ray Leonard for the WBC Super Middleweight Championship. After 12 exciting rounds, it came down to this Judge Jerry Roth scored the bout 113-112 for Hearns. Judge Tom Kazmarek scored the bout 113-112 for Leonard, and Judge Dalby Shirley scored the bout 112-112. This bout was declared a draw despite the fact that during the bout Hearns twice knocked down Leonard, first in round 3 and second in round 11. Even Leonard admit Hearns won the contest.

See also

• 10 Point System