Aussie boxer Tapia holds on for controversial draw

Australian middleweight talent Mateo Tapia remains unbeaten after holding on for a bruising draw on the Tim Tszyu world title undercard in Florida.

Venezuelan Endry Saavedra cried robbery after leaving Tapia battered and blue only for two of the three judges to score the fight 93-93.

The other awarded the contest at the Caribe Royale resort in Orlando 94-92 to Tapia.

"I'm not a bullshit artist. That could have gone either way," Tapia said.

"But I thought I snuck in a few rounds in the middle of the fight."

Tapia, a Mexican-born, Sydney-raised long-time sparring partner of Tszyu, admitted "100 per cent" there should be a rematch and his promoters No Limit Boxing said they were already in talks with Saavedra's team.

Tapia was literally on the ropes - and once through them - twice in the second round after Saavedra shook him with a big left then delivered a flurry of shots to his head - and repeated the dose.

The 26-year-old Tapia, who had won 10 of his previous 17 fights via knockouts, looked in serious trouble before his so-called million-dollar right hand came into play out of nowhere in the dying stages of the fifth.

Tapia stunned Saavedra with a lightning-rod right, then followed up with another to drop the South American in what looked a turning point.

But Saavedra appeared to edge Tapia for much of the remainder of the fight and sent the Australian to the canvas for a third time in the penultimate round.

"I don't understand what happened," Saavedra said.

"I can't understand how I could take him down three times and not get the win.

"I'm disappointed. I've been away from my family for three months and for it to be taken away from me is really sad."

Even No Limit Boxing's Matt Rose thought Saavedra had shaded the fight.

"On the fight itself, I thought it was incredible. Both fighters turned up tonight," Rose said.

"Both world rated, it was a world-class fight and the performance by both Mateo and Saavedra should be applaused by all because both guys left nothing in the ring.

"At the end of the fight, I thought Saavedra won.

"But I can't take away their performance from both fighters and a draw probably represents both efforts."