Deontay Wilder claims Jake Paul was robbed of victory against Tommy Fury

Former world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has claimed Jake Paul should have been named winner when he fought Tommy Fury on Sunday.

Fury won the fight by split decision- with the judges calling the fight 76-73, 76-73, 74-75 in his favour – but found it tougher than he had predicted as he was knocked down and faced a point deduction for holding.

Paul was also deducted a point for hitting Fury in the back of the head during the fifth round when the former Love Island star already led 3-1, which Wilder called ‘immature’ from referee Hector Afu.

‘I think Jake got that one,’ the boxer told Fight Hub TV after the match. ‘It was an immature point. The referee is supposed to give him at least three warnings. He gave him no warnings.’

When asked if Paul should have won, Wilder replied: ‘I think so. With the knockdown, he sealed it. He got that point taken away. I think Jake Paul needed that knockdown, and when he did, it evened it out. I think he only gave it to Fury because of the point taken.’

Tommy Fury beat Jake Paul by split decision in Saudi Arabia on Sunday

The judges calling the fight 76-73, 76-73, 74-75 in the former Love Island star’s favour

Fury argued he had merely slipped when knocked down during the fight, but replays showed Paul landing a flush jab at the same moment he lost his footing.

Many fans on Twitter agreed with Wilder’s verdict after the fight, with several claiming the contest had been ‘rigged’ in Fury’s favour.

It was also labelled ‘daylight robbery’, as fans backed Paul to ‘smoke him in the rematch.’

There were others who felt Fury was a deserving winner, with some agreeing the knockdown could have been a ‘slip’ and feeling the Brit was ‘in control all the way’.

 After the fight, and two years of trading verbal blows, both fighters were willing to put their differences aside to show respect for their counterpart on the night.

Deontay Wilder has claimed Paul should have been named winner of the bout

Fans on Twitter claimed the fight was ‘rigged’ against the Problem Child

BT Sport‘s cameras caught the two speaking after the fight and Fury could be heard saying: ‘You’re a tough man. You’ve come a long way. 

‘You started a few years ago, I started when I was six. I’ve got nothing but love and respect for you brother.’

Paul looked dejected as Fury spoke to him, given the devastating loss, but still mustered a message: ‘Thank you bro’. 

The American has promised he would be back for a rematch after blaming the loss on ‘illness’ and an ‘arm injury’, with Fury telling him to ‘bring it on’.