Derek Chisora defeated Kubrat Pulev by split decision in a close heavyweight bout at London’s O2 Arena, ending a three-fight losing streak.
The 38-year-old – an underdog heading into the fight – matched Bulgarian Pulev, 41, with both men landing punches throughout the bout.
One judge scored it 116-112 for Pulev, with the other two scoring it 116-112 and 116-114 for Chisora.
Chisora avenges his 2016 loss to Pulev.
“It was tough. I never pick easy fights, I like hard fights,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“You’re not here long, I need the hard fights.”
Pulev suffers his third loss in 32 fights, having also lost world title challenges to Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua.
Chisora tips narrow content
It may not have been the most technical fight of all time, but Pulev-Chisora was a fight in which two heavyweight veterans traded punches mercilessly for nearly the entirety of the fight.
Chisora vowed to stick it to Pulev from the first bell and, in front of a raucous crowd of 7,000, was the aggressor straight away, forcing his opponent on the back foot.
Pulev’s tightness prevented Chisora from finding leverage in the first two rounds, but the Briton’s body work was particularly impressive.
Chisora bulldozed forward with no regard for his defense or safety, but Pulev began to find success with his jab and landed cleaner punches as his opponent lost momentum in the 3 rounds -5.
It was a scrappy affair at times, with both fighters leading with their heads, getting tangled up on the inside and being warned by the referee on several occasions in the middle rounds.
However, the match was very good in the second half.
In the seventh round, Chisora unleashed his trademark lefts and rights. It wasn’t all clean, but each wild swing spurred the crowd into action, with Pulev getting cut over the right eye.
A right uppercut from Pulev at eight, fed by a straight left, wobbled and hurt Chisora. In the ninth, however, it was Pulev who held on as the Briton came fighting back. Two huge rights and a left landed on Pulev, who was somehow still standing.
Pulev landed just after the bell in round 10, Chisora hit back with a punch of his own as the referee – not for the first time – intervened.
Both boxers may have felt the fight was still there for the taking in the final round, and it was Chisora who landed the more impressive blows.
“I’m on my way out”
Chisora’s story continues, but perhaps not for much longer. He said: “I was hurt [by the uppercut in the eighth round]. I won’t stand here and say I wasn’t hurt. I had to regroup and close that door again. “I’m excited because I’m coming out, I’m not going to lie. But before I go out I want to give you a show.” Promoter Hearn described the Pulev clash as a must-win fight for his boxer. Speaking after the fight, Hearn added: “People talk about Chisora and say ‘he should hang up’. He’s just won a top 15, top 10 heavyweight in the world, so how can you criticize him ; “If he’s winning fights like this against Kubrat Pulev’s standards, why not continue the sport?” Chisora’s three straight losses have come against quality opponents – pound-for-pound star Oleksandr Usyk, the current unified world champion, followed by back-to-back losses to former WBO champion Joseph Parker. A four-game losing streak, however, would be extremely damaging to any boxer, especially one at the end of his career. But Chisora is not just any boxer. There is no suggestion that he would have retired even if he had lost.
Who’s next for Chisora?
A trilogy fight with rival Dillian Whyte – who lost to Tyson Fury in April – will appease those boxing fans who want to see them meet again. The first fight was a classic heavyweight fight which Britain’s Whyte won. Chisora led on points in the rematch before being knocked out in the 11th round.
Former WBC champion Deontay Wilder has been talked about as a possible opponent for Chisora. The American has brutal one-punch power, but has shown his vulnerabilities in back-to-back losses to Fury.
A win over Chisora, who some might describe as a world title shot, will show us what Wilder has left in the tank.
Chisora was set to face Poland’s Adam Kownacki, but that fight fell through, with Pulev being chosen as a replacement. On paper, Chisora and Kownacki are a stormer, with two styles likely to gel.
On the inside, there’s “regular” WBA champion Daniel Dubois or contender Joe Joyce. While a clash with Chisora will attract fans, there is not much to gain from two fighters who have their eyes set on title fights.
“He doesn’t have much left, but as long as he’s feeling good, he’s motivated and full in the ring and he’s fit and healthy, we’re going to keep rolling the dice,” Hearn said.
“He wants to go somewhere in the Middle East, he wants to fight the caviar. There are some really good fights out there for him.”
What Chisora does next remains to be seen, but fans were once again entertained.
From getting heated with his opponent at the press conference and getting separated by security to wearing a Boris Johnson outer mask at the weigh-in, it’s been another strange fight week for Chisora.
He’s back to winning ways and there are no signs of calling it a day.
