Australia’s Mateo Tapia has survived being dropped three times to earn the gutsiest of draws on the undercard of Tim Tszyu here in the US — while also showcasing why his right hand has been valued at $1 million.

A longtime sparring partner of both Tszyu boys, Tapia is already being talked up for an Australian rematch with Endry Saavedra after the pair received a standing ovation at the end of their enthralling draw in Orlando, Florida.

However large sections of the crowd were clearly disappointed that Saavedra was not given the win soon after — with No Limit promoter Matt Rose also conceding afterwards he thought his fighter had lost.

BOXING: TSZYU V MURTAZALIEV | Tim Tszyu faces off against undefeated IBF super welterweight champ Bakhram Murtazaliev | SUN 20 OCT 10:30AM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports >

However Rose praised the performance of both men, especially given Tapia was dropped twice in the third and once in the ninth.

The undefeated Sydneysider also rallied and dominated through the middle rounds, earning a knockdown himself with a massive right hand in the fifth.

One judge scored the fight 94-92 for Tapia, while two

more had it 93-93.

Speaking afterwards, Rose conceded he thought his fighter had lost, but hailed the courage of both men.

The promoter also said his fighter had been impacted by a head clash in the early rounds, which caused increasing swelling around his eye.

Rose also revealed talks were already underway for a rematch between the two, with Saavedra having already travelled Down Under in March — where he upset another No Limit fighter, Issac Hardman.

“Incredible fight,” Rose said backstage.

“That was a world class fight and the performances of both should be applauded by all. Both guys gave everything in there.

“Both were brave at different times.

“I also felt the head clash in two, round three, I thought that was a bit of a turning point as it affected Mateo.”

MORE TSZYU VS MURTAZALIEV NEWS

‘SIGN THE PAPERWORK’: Shock Tszyu call out during hotel encounter

CANELO, CHARLO, CRAWFORD? Every scenario for Tszyu’s title blockbuster

ULTIMATE GUIDE & START TIME: Everything you need to know

So who won?

“I thought Saavedra,” Rose said. “I thought that (third) knockdown got it for him.

“But there were some close rounds.

“I’ll have to watch it back.

“And I can’t take away the performance of both guys …. it’s a fight they will be talking about for the rest of the year.”

The draw comes in the same week the fighter who was born in Mexico and raised on Sydney’s northern beaches was dubbed a fighter “with a million dollar right hand”.

Certainly that seemed to be the case in the fifth, where Saavedra was dropped badly — and found his feet just before the bell sounded to end the round.

The Aussie also landed plenty of big right hands to the body.

The result finished s crazy month for the fighter who now trains out of St Petersburg, Florida and had his camp interrupted by two hurricanes — the first of which flooded his apartment building while the second saw the fighter and his wife evacuated to Miami to finish preparations.

Despite being dropped twice in the third, the Aussie, who was on an undefeated run of 17 straight, looked to have recovered from his round three knockdowns as the bout passed midway.

Yet Saavedra also rallied himself after being dropped in the fifth and wearing several massive right hands to the body.

Back in March, the Venezuelan travelled to Sydney and upset Queensland favourite Hardman.

And large sections of the crowd felt he had done enough in this second straight fight against an Aussie.

However the result undoubtedly confirmed the grit of Tapia, who spent more than 10 years training alongside the Tszyu boys – and sparring “hundreds” of rounds together.

When signing with promoters No Limit in February, CEO George Rose described the undefeated middleweight as “the greatest Aussie boxer you’ve never heard of”.

The Aussie has also received huge praise from no less than American Hall of Famer Virgil Hall.

Speaking with Fox Sports Australia in fight week, Tapia revealed the inspiration he had received from Hill while preparing in Los Angeles earlier this year.

While now training out of Florida, Tapia started the year in LA where he caught the eye of Hill — who claim both light heavyweight and cruiserweight titles over two decades from 1996.

“I was just sparring in LA this particular day,” Tapia recounted of a session at the famed Brickhouse gym, “and Virgil Hill was there just walking around the gym.

“Then after watching me spar, he comes up afterwards and tells me ‘hey, you’ve got a right hand worth one million dollars’ …”

To which you thought what?

“Well,” Tapia had said, smile widening at the memory, “it was a line that made me happy”.

But the real kicker?

“Every time I came in to spar from then on,” Tapia continued, “Virgil would tell me the same line again and again.

“He said I just needed to set up the right hand, learn how to use it, and I’d go a long way in this sport.

“Which ever since, has really made me feel like I can do something …”

Speaking briefly in the ring afterwards, Tapia admitted the fight could have gone either way and said he would be happy to accept a rematch.