Derek Chisora names the heavyweight who hit him hardest ahead of Wilder fight

This weekend, Derek Chisora fights one of the hardest natural punchers in heavyweight history, as he collides with Deontay Wilder in his supposed farewell fight. Ahead of the scrap, Chisora has unveiled a surprise name as the man who has hit him hardest thus far in his 49-fight career.

Chisora has faced a host of heavyweights considered to be major punchers and has been stopped four times during his almost two-decade-long spell in the sport, with David Haye being the first to halt him, in their 2012 grudge match at Upton Park.

Two years later, ‘Del Boy’ fell to Tyson Fury in their 2014 rematch, when he attempted to become a two-time British champion and the EBU European heavyweight titleholder, as his corner pulled him out after round 10.

In 2018, after a gruelling rematch with Dillian Whyte, Chisora was knocked out whilst ahead on the scorecards in round 11, that being the solitary pure ‘KO’ defeat to date for the 43-year-old.

Finally, in a second unsuccessful challenge for world honours, ‘Del Boy’ was denied in round 10 by Fury once again in 2022, in a one-sided trilogy clash that remains as his most recent defeat.

Yet, in an interview with Givemesport, Chisora accredited the hardest punch that he has felt to a man that he beat twice, believing that Paul Butlin, whom he decisioned in 2008 and 2009, caught him with the best shot.

“Paul Butlin from Wales [hit me the hardest].”

Butlin was a veteran journeyman who also shared the ring with fighters such as Anthony Joshua and Lucas Browne, but had claimed just three stoppage wins in his 41 professional contests.

Despite Chisora’s words, Butlin hails from Leicester, meaning that Chisora could have instead meant to name Welshman Darren Morgan -whom he fought in his third pro bout back in 2007 and has also since praised his power – with six of Morgan’s eight wins coming by knockout.

Wilder will hope that he can remove any confusion and register a more devastating blow, as he seeks to become the first non-Briton to dispatch of Chisora when they meet at the O2 Arena on Saturday night.