Derek Chisora put on a slugfest for the ages against Deontay Wilder at London's O2 Arena, but the 42-year-old Briton lost by split decision after 12 rounds. The fight, billed as a potential farewell for Chisora, saw both heavyweights trade heavy blows in a back-and-forth brawl that many consider a fight-of-the-year contender.
Wilder, 40, edged the victory, but it was Chisora who won the hearts of the crowd with his relentless pressure. The American repeated pro wrestler Shawn Michaels' famous words, 'I'm sorry, I love you,' as he tried to give Chisora a poetic sendoff. Chisora, now on 14 losses, remained coy about retirement, saying: 'I'm going to go home with the boss lady and see.'
The Zimbabwe-born fighter, who moved to the UK aged 16, reflected on his career: 'I got in trouble and then got addicted to boxing. I didn't know I was going to get addicted. Thank you very much, United Kingdom.' Chisora's mantra during fight week was 'f*** it, let's go', and he delivered the chaos his fans demanded.
Wilder, meanwhile, appeared emotionally fragile in the build-up, clashing with media figures and ranting about personal matters. The 'Bronze Bomber' needed a big performance after losing four of his last six, and though he won, his future remains uncertain. Chisora, however, may have finally answered the retirement question with his stirring display.
