Derek Chisora declared he would 'die in the ring' before his final fight against Deontay Wilder, a bout that lived up to his warrior promise. The British heavyweight, 42, went the distance with the former WBC champion at a raucous O2 Arena in London, earning a hero's reception despite losing via split decision.
Chisora, in his 50th and final professional bout, showed remarkable resilience after being knocked down in the eighth round. He rallied back to force Wilder onto the ropes, with the crowd roaring as the Rocky theme tune played. Wilder was deducted a point in the same round.
The fight started ominously for Chisora, who was caught by Wilder's power early on. However, he turned the tide in the fourth round with a huge right hook that wobbled the American. Both fighters traded heavy blows throughout, with Chisora surviving two non-knockdowns in the fifth and a slip in the eleventh.
Judges scored the bout 115-111, 112-115, and 115-113 in favour of Wilder, giving the Bronze Bomber a split-decision victory. Chisora, who rode the London Underground to the arena, was greeted by Anthony Joshua in a surprise appearance. The British star had not been seen publicly since a car crash in December that killed two friends.
Chisora's farewell was celebrated by fans who stood throughout the final round, serenading him as he completed his journey in professional boxing. Despite the loss, his performance may put Wilder back in contention for top heavyweight fights.
