The final round was something to behold, both men putting everything on the line to prove they had done enough.
The first minute of that round belonged to Chamberlain, who put the pressure on Rafferty and threw everything he had into combinations that made it through.
But, to the home crowd’s delight, Rafferty finished the round strong, replying with shots of his own that exposed Chamberlain’s already opened cuts, with blood pouring down the side of his face.
As the final bell sounded the arena rose to applaud the efforts of both men who provided what could be one of the fights of the year.
“What a fight and what a time to be alive,” Rafferty told Sport after the fight.
“I’ve come from absolutely nothing to now fighting a main event on TV, which is amazing, both our stocks have risen.
“I thought I did enough and I believe I won but I’m not a referee, I’m a fighter. I’ll go back and assess to see if I need to be better next time. Sign me up for a rematch.”
Rafferty has never lost as a professional and Chamberlain came into this fight with just one defeat. This was the first time both men had drawn.
“Since the fight was made I said that I was going to stand there and have a war with Jack,” Chamberlain told Sport.
“That’s what we both did, it was a proper 12 round British title scrap.
“We both dug deep and went into deep waters, we’re getting out the ring after the final bell healthy and back to our families, which is what matters.
“We both caught each other in there a few times. People are telling me it was one hell of a scrap and we both want the rematch, so let’s get it on.”
