Wilder beats Chisora via split decision after gruelling contest

John Fury made headlines by claiming son Tyson has not been the same since his trilogy of fights against Deontay Wilder, but the same can be said of the American.

Wilder, a former WBC heavyweight world champion, has not beaten a ranked opponent since Luis Ortiz in 2019, losing four of his last six fights. Three of those were knockout defeats, and though The Bronze Bomber knocked out Tyrrell Herndon last June that contest was a glorified warm-up.

By contrast, Wilder’s opponent Derek Chisora has defied the odds, his age, and his slugging style of boxing to topple Gerald Washington, Joe Joyce and Otto Wallin in his last three fights.

Chisora claims that tonight’s bout at London’s O2 Arena will be his last as a professional boxer, but the 42-year-old has said that previously before returning to the ring.

Wilder and Chisora have been in the top 10 of the heavyweight division for years but this is the first time they will touch gloves.

By coincidence, it is both men’s 50th professional fight. Chisora’s record reads 36-13, 23KOs, while Wilder’s reputation for destruction is reflected in a record of 44-4-1, 43KOs.

Chisora weighed in at a career-heaviest 19st, some 40lb more than Wilder who tipped the scales at 16st 17lb.

Ordinarily, you would say the heavier man would be disadvantaged by a fight becoming a test of stamina in the late rounds, but Wilder has won just one fight by decision in his career.

It is said the American has focused on becoming a more technical fighter behind his jab, though some observers have concluded that is a sign of hesitancy. Chisora is lion-hearted and not afraid to take a blow.

This is how the card for the night looks:

Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder (heavyweight)
Viddal Riley vs Mateusz Masternak (cruiserweight)
Denzel Bentley vs Endry Saavedra (vacant WBO interim middleweight title)
Ashton Sylve vs Raul Antonio (super-lightweight)
Matty Harris vs Franklin Ignatius (heavyweight)
Amir Anderson vs Jordan Dujon (middleweight)
Dan Toward vs Misael Da Veiga (super-welterweight)
Jermaine Dhliwayo vs Jake Morgan (super-featherweight)
Abner Teixeira vs TBA (heavyweight)