Derek Chisora: A Boxing ‘WAR’ Well Fought

Chisora will be looking to emulate his compatriots by inflicting a third career defeat on Wallin at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena on February 8. Before the bell rings though, FightsATW is going to take this opportunity to look back at the career of Chisora before he contests a fight which has been marketed as “The Last Dance” and referred to as being his last bout on British soil.

Although he never won a world title, Chisora collected the British, Commonwealth and European heavyweight titles during his career. Two attempts to win the WBC world title ended in defeat, but in a career that has contained some controversy along the way, Chisora has, in the main, earned the admiration of the UK’s boxing fans for his willingness to face the best and for the courageous way in which he fights. He also possesses a larger-than-life personality that most people tend to warm to.

Starting Late In Boxing and Taking On Everyone

Chisora was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, but relocated to London, England, at the age of 16. He began boxing at Finchley ABC in North London at 19. Despite coming to boxing late, Chisora fared well during his amateur career and turned pro in 2007. Chisora won his first 14 contests, including winning the British heavyweight title by defeating Danny Williams in his 13th outing. A boxer he would end up sharing the ring with on three occasions ended his unbeaten run – Fury, being that man, outpointed Chisora in London in July of 2011.

Although boxing mainly in England, Chisora also fought in various other European locations – namely Finland, Sweden and Germany.

Indeed, some of Chisora’s best-known fights took place in continental Europe. Defeats to Robert Helenius, Vitali Klitschko, Kubrat Pulev and Agit Kabayel all occurred on foreign shores and indicated that Chisora would perhaps always come up just short when he stepped up to face better opposition. He was, however, prepared to travel to take on such challenges.

The man never stopped trying and his ledger is filled with household names. Chisora has boxed almost all of this era’s great and good heavyweights. He faced Fury on three occasions, David Haye when he was still good, Pulev twice – gaining revenge for a 2016 defeat in 2022 – Joseph Parker twice, Dillian Whyte also twice, Carlos Takam and Oleksandr Usyk. In his last fight, which took place in July last year, Chisora upset Joe Joyce to show he still had some life in his aging joints and muscles. For those who have followed Chisora’s career closely, they know that win, lose, or draw, he will never look for an easy way out of a fight, no matter how tough the opponent.

Looking Back At Chisora Versus Vitali Klitschko

Despite losing two out of his previous three contests, Chisora was presented with the opportunity to face Vitali Klitschko (then 43-2, 40KOs) in Munich, Germany, for the WBC heavyweight title. Klitschko, approaching the end of his career, was on an 11-fight winning streak. The fight took place on February 18, 2012.

It looked a tall order for Chisora, contesting just his 17th bout, and it proved to be the case. Klitschko used his experience and size to keep Chisora at bay throughout the contest. The longtime champion was hampered by a shoulder injury but managed through the fight and detonated enough power punches to turn away Chisora’s game challenge. Although well beaten on the scorecards, Chisora earned respect from observers for his aggression, bravery and punch resistance. Chisora closed the fight strongly, showing heart and the desire always to give his best. In defeat, Chisora offered enough to suggest that he would be around the heavyweight scene for many years to come.

Some Controversial Moments and Bad Behavior

Along with giving his all inside the ring, Chisora also puts everything into the promotion of his fights. Despite being somewhat jovial and relaxed in certain settings, Chisora has also shown that he is prepared to do just about anything in order to get under an opponent’s skin.

Prior to the above mentioned Klitschko fight, Chisora shocked Vitali and everyone watching when he slapped him during the face-off, which followed the weigh-in on the day prior to the fight. Chisora continued his villainous conduct during the fight introductions when he spat water at Wladimir Klitschko, who was in his brother’s corner. More Chisora antics occurred at a December 2016 press conference prior to his first bout against Dillian Whyte. Foul-mouthed insults had already been traded when Chisora picked up his section of the top table and launched it in Whyte’s direction.

Perhaps most famously, in the immediate aftermath of his defeat to Klitschko, Chisora became involved in a wild brawl with UK rival David Haye at the post-fight press conference. Haye seemed to be there to antagonize Klitschko, but Chisora got involved in the war of words and the two English boxers ended up exchanging blows, with Chisora claiming Haye had punched him while holding a glass bottle. In the scuffle, Haye’s trainer, Adam Booth, ended up with a cut on his forehead. It was an ugly scene. Repercussions followed. Chisora had his British boxing license withdrawn, and the WBC suggested a motion to ban him from the sport indefinitely.

The ban didn’t happen, and Chisora and Haye fought one another in a London soccer stadium five months later. The fight took place on British soil but wasn’t licensed by the British Board of Boxing Control due to Chisora not being licensed by them at that moment in time. The Luxembourg Boxing Federation licensed the fight, and Haye defeated Chisora via fifth-round stoppage.

Becoming Involved With Saudi Arabia and Boxing Promotion

More recently, Chisora has been able to show the fun side of his personality outside the ring by involving himself in the promotion of boxing in Saudi Arabia. Prior to the Jake Paul – Tommy Fury event in Saudi Arabia, Chisora informed reporters that he was working in partnership with a sports and entertainment agency called Skill Challenge.

Having fun with his new role, Chisora claimed that he was the “face of boxing in Saudi Arabia” as well as poking fun at Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren – warning the two veteran promoters any deals in Saudi Arabia would need to be approved by him. Of course, since then, Saudi Arabia has taken a strong foothold in boxing. Perhaps Chisora’s links will ensure he boxes on a Riyadh Season show in the Kingdom before he hangs his gloves up.

Derek Chisora’s Last Dance

Over a long and sometimes torrid career, Chisora has never ducked a challenge or half-heartedly approached a fight or its promotion. With a little of a bad boy element to his character, he hasn’t always appealed to everyone, but as the years have worn on, he has earned the respect of most boxing observers in the UK.

Always on the fringes of world-class, Chisora and fighters like him are needed in boxing. They test up-and-coming prospects and keep the current champions on their toes. Perhaps Chisora has carried on a little too long, but only he can decide when he will retire from a sport he clearly loves.

With last year’s upset of Joyce fresh in the memory, Chisora will have hopes of upsetting the form book one more time on February 8 in Manchester. If it is to be his last dance in boxing, then his efforts in the sport will be fondly remembered by those of us who witnessed his career. He is currently preparing to go to war one more time – one suspects that Chisora wouldn’t want it any other way.