Wilder Edges Past Chisora In Split Decision Win

40-year-old former world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (45-4-1-43KO) defeated the 42-year-old Derek Chisora (36-14-23KO) by a close split decision (115–111, 112-115 and 115–113) in a sloppy 12-round fight at the O2 Arena in London that saw three knockdowns.

Wilder found success early with his signature straight rights, as he pushed Chisora backwards. The action in the first round peaked when a member of Chisora’s corner briefly entered the ring during a clinch—a move that nearly resulted in an immediate disqualification. After being picked apart by Wilder’s lead hooks, a frustrated and seemingly fatigued Chisora literally threw Wilder to the canvas in round 4.

Chisora found a second wind in Round 5, switching to southpaw to try and confuse Wilder, landing looping shots, however Wilder reclaimed control in the sixth and seventh, timing his uppercuts as Chisora moved forward. The eighth round provided the fight’s most significant turning point as Wilder dropped Chisora with a sharp left hook, which was one of two knockdowns he secured in the fight. Wilder then lost a point for pushing a dazed Chisora toward the ropes. While Chisora finished the stronger of the two, getting a knockdown of his own in the 11th, the former champ held on until the final bell to escape with the decision.

While Chisora claimed the Wilder fight, his 50th professional bout, would be the final of his career, he did not make an official retirement announcement following the loss. Meanwhile, after Wilder’s victory, he called out fellow former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, who was sitting ringside, for a long overdue fight.