Willibaldo Garcia and Rene Calixto gave everything you can ask for in a major title fight.

What the Fight of the Year contender failed to produce, however, was a winner or a new IBF 115-pound titleholder.

An all-action twelve-round affair between the pair of Mexican junior bantamweights resulted in a split decision draw. Garcia won 118-110 on one card, while Calixto was awarded a 116-112 verdict. The final tally of 114-114 produced the stalemate in their ABEMA-TV/ESPN Knockout aired title fight Saturday afternoon (Friday evening in U.S.) from Twin Messe in Shizuoka, Japan.

Somehow, all three scorecards were in the realm of possibility, given the number of close rounds. Nevertheless, the IBF junior bantamweight title—previously held by The Ring No. 1 contender Fernando Martinez (17-0, 9 KOs)—remains vacant as a result.

Calixto came firing out the gate. The unbeaten contender enjoyed early success with right uppercuts and left hooks. Garcia showed a sturdy beard in the absence of defensive savvy.

Garcia came alive in the back half of the second and throughout the third round. He exploited Calixto's desire to fight on the side and began digging in with his right hand. The first-time title challenger worked the body in an effort to slow down his countryman.

It worked to a degree, as Calixto managed to keep pace with Garcia through the first five rounds. Garcia was still the busier of the two and grew more confident as the rounds progresed.

Calixto enjoyed the bout's biggest momentum swing late in the sixth round. A series of right hands and left hooks left Garcia wobbled.

Garcia did his best to return to the favor but was unable to rediscover any of his earlier swagger. Calixto played a big part in that. Rather than continue to stand and trade, he used constant lateral movement in the seventh.

The tactic not only helped avoid the incoming but also set up his power shots from long range. It wasn't enough to avoid a clash of heads in the eighth.

Calixto was left with a nasty gash above his left eyelid but the fight moved forward. Time was called as the ringside physician offered a thorough exam before he allowed the bout to continue.

The two continued to trade big shots for the balance of the bout, the nip-and-tuck affair well reflected on the wide-ranging scorecards.

Calixto connected with a monstrous right hook in the tenth. It should have produced the end of the fight.

Garcia, who somehow remained upright, instead used the moment as a wake-up call. He took the lead in the championship rounds, just in time to avoid a loss and having to watch his countryman claim the title that is still up for grabs.

With the draw verdict, next steps will have to be determined by the IBF. For now, Garcia (22-5-2, 13 KOs) and Calixto (23-0-1, 9 KOs) remain the two highest ranked contenders in the sanctioning body's 115-pound ratings.

The fantastic twelve rounds of action they just provided should be more than enough reason to do it all again.