Two veterans of the sport fought for the second time, having fought in Hamburg in 2016, amid debate over what they had to achieve in boxing. Pulev had won the first meeting on a split decision but was second best for much of the 12 rounds, with Chisora linked up several times in his right to make his 45th professional fight to remember back in the capital. He beat the 38-year-old heavyweight after the judges scored the fight many predicted would send him into retirement 112-116, 116-112 and 116-114. Image: Derek Chisora (right) earned a split decision victory at the O2 Arena The combined age of the duo was 79, but Chisora had faced Oleksandr Usyk in 2020, while Pulev was knocked out by Anthony Joshua at the end of the same year to show their desire to continue matching the best in the business. . It was a welcome return to London for “Del Boy” after fights with Joseph Parker in Manchester and the former Finchley amateur boasted a strong record of six wins from seven at the O2 Arena. After leaving in a golden glow to Elvis Presley’s ‘You are always on my mind’ and receiving a standing ovation from the home crowd, Chisora went to work on Pulev’s body with several early shots during the first round. Referee Marcus McDonnell had to warn both men about the fight after just one minute and moved quickly to avoid a big right from the British boxer in the second round. Pulev, who had only lost to Wladimir Klitschko and Joshua, began to gain more success in the third before Chisora was able to connect with his black gloves with a right over the top. The 38-year-old produced his best moment in the sixth when a series of left jabs caught the Bulgarian in the face followed by a powerful body shot. Image: Pulev’s loss is just the third of his professional career McDonnell had warned Pulev about the rabbit punch at the end of the same round and benefiting from an almost fully packed O2 Arena, Chisora set about ending his losing streak in the seventh. A right hook left its mark on his fellow veteran, who was bleeding from his left eye and was only saved by the bell, but the tables were quickly turned. Pulev came out with better intentions for the eighth and had Chisora swinging with a sweetly struck right uppercut. On the ropes, Chisora came out swinging and with both men aware that they had retired to possibly await the loser, a thrilling ninth ensued. Chisora lived up to his ‘War’ moniker by unleashing two venomous right fists before a flurry of lefts saw Pulev firmly on the back foot. Blood was coming from Pulev’s right eye now, but the 10th ended with the bigger boxer landing a punch after the bell, which saw the Londoner respond in kind. Fatigue seemed to set in in the penultimate round, but Chisora secured the 33rd win of his 15-year professional career with a beautiful straight right early in the final round and a brilliant combination to the body that was enough to earn the win via two of the judges’ score.
