By Radio Rahim

Former unified two division champion Bernard Hopkins strongly believes that Deontay Wilder did more than enough to retain his WBC world title earlier this month, when he fought to a controversial twelve round split draw at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Wilder was the winner one scorecard, with a tally of 115-111. Fury came up the winner on another, with a score of 114-112. And the final card came down at 113-113. 

A rematch is already being planned for the first half of 2019, and the WBC is already on board to sanction the bout.

Fury boxed very well in the fight and frustrated Wilder throughout the twelve rounds.

But Fury was also decked, twice. In the twelfth round it appeared the fight was over when Fury went down hard and appeared to be out cold. In what some saw as a miracle, Fury made it to his feet before the count of ten.

Hopkins felt the knockdowns secured the win for Wilder - and he expects the Bronze Bomber to close the show with a big knockout when the rematch takes place.

"Wilder won this fight. And I can easily say the two knockdowns secured it to me.... based on the rounds that went past those knockdowns. Wilder did lay back a little bit and Fury did throw some punches here and there but they were not effective. Wilder will stop him next time," Hopkins explained to BoxingScene.com.

"I think [Anthony] Joshua is the most fundamentally sound, the most athletic out of all the heavyweights out there. But Wilder, I believe he won the fight.... not by split, but unanimous [decision]. I think he done enough. I think he got the two knockdowns that gave him a huge lead. I think they [the judges] got it wrong, because I didn't see rounds that he lost that made it a draw."