derek chisora gets revenge after six years of waiting
Derek Chisora accomplished his ambition to get revenge over Kubrat Pulev at the O2 Arena in London last Saturday night. The victory helped silence the doubters of the 38-year-old with the judges scoring the heavyweight contest 112-116, 116-112 and 116-114 to ‘Del Boy’ after he lost to the Bulgarian back in 2016. This also halted his run of three consecutive defeats with a split decision win over ‘The Cobra’.
For Chisora, the result and the performance that barely secured it will serve as vindication of his decision to fight on. Fans were wincing during this hellacious contest – though that word seems almost too ‘professional sports’ for a match this gladiatorial – and they will have likely had the same reaction when Chisora called for a clash with Deontay Wilder during his post-fight interview. Chisora said this week that the product he sells is “War”, but his feelings towards retirement suggest that the veteran has become a prisoner of it over time.
“I think I last won a fight three years ago,” Chisora said, exhausted but relieved. “It’s been… listen… It was hard. Pulev’s a great fighter. I’m happy today. At the same time, I’m sad. I don’t have many left in me, but what I have, I’m gonna give it all to you guys. I don’t want easy fights. I told Eddie (Hearn, promoter) the other day, if you can get me the ‘Bronze Bomber’ (Deontay Wilder), I’ll be happy.”
Wilder may be an enticing prospect for Chisora. That fight is a frightening prospect for fans.
A 12-rounds Brutal Bout
Taglines for boxing bouts are often contrived and usually superfluous, but for this rematch six years in the making, ‘Total Carnage’ proved fitting. If anything, those in attendance in London probably anticipated a few rounds of total carnage and then a sad, brutal ending to the night and potentially the career of either of these aging heavyweights. But Chisora, 38, and Pulev, 41, raged against the dying of the pugilistic light with stubborn jabs, weltering hooks, and ominous overhands as around 7,000 watched on.
Chisora employed animated head movement in the opening round, evading Pulev’s jabs and getting in close, where he would burrow spiteful hooks into the body of the Bulgarian. Pulev’s torso was soon a vibrant red, but the tourist established his jab more effectively over the following few rounds, preferring to fight at range while Chisora tried to close distance. As the fight crossed its halfway mark, Pulev was pushing back Chisora and seemingly starting to pull clear, putting together combinations with the crowd favorite stuck on the ropes.
It was in Round 7 that the tide began to turn, however, while simultaneously turning a crimson red. For Chisora had cut Pulev above the Bulgarian’s left eye, and the wound began to open up severely in the seventh frame, blood impairing Pulev’s vision and allowing Chisora to hammer him with the kind of overhand rights that had not quite connected up until that point.
Impressive and vital work from Pulev’s cutman prevented the blood from spilling down the Bulgarian’s face as it had in Round 7, and the 41-year-old reaped the benefits in the eighth round; Pulev increased his output and began to break down Chisora. The Briton rallied late in the round, however, and in the ninth round, he nearly spun Pulev around with a winging hook. Pulev tried to box his way out of a troubling moment, but again Chisora hurt him with a heavy shot.
In Round 10, Chisora opened up another cut – this one on the other side of Pulev’s face – and again his opponent’s vision was impaired as blood streamed down. The visitor again tried to stay disciplined in his approach, while Chisora favored haymakers and began to land them with increasing success. Pulev connected with a right hand after the bell at the end of the round, and Chisora responded in kind, with the referee seemingly content that the fouls had canceled one another out.
Round 11 arrived and Pulev remarkably seemed to be undeterred by the bleeding around his eyes. He slung straight shots at Chisora, the Briton beginning to fade and starting to rely on his heart as his lungs let him down. There was time for one last crucial rally from Chisora, though, “Del Boy” getting after Pulev straight away and propelling hooks into the midriff of the battered Bulgarian.
After 12 rounds that flowed from one to the next on a cocktail tide of blood and sweat, it was Chisora’s swollen hand that was raised by the referee. Pulev seemed accepting of the result.
Chisora’s brave showing was, apparently, enough, as his young children watched on – seeing their father fight in person for the first time.
