DEREK CHISORA left blood sweat and tears in the ring to ensure he got the win over Kubrat Pulev in their gruelling grudge match.
Del Boy War narrowly lost on a split decision during their 2016 contest.
But the Brit put things right tonight, putting on a show for the whole O2 Arena to enjoy.
- RESULT: Chisora bt Pulev on a split decision
- TV/Live stream: DAZN
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Wild thoughts
Derek Chisora called out Deontay Wilder in a bid to add the American to his ever-improving boxing record.
The heavyweight veteran made the brave challenge after he overcame Kubrat Pulev in their epic rematch.
Chisora, 38, had not won in his last three bouts, having last celebrated victory in 2019.
He said: “I last won a fight three years ago…
“I’m happy today but at the same time I’m sad. I don’t have many left in me but what I do have I will give my all to you guys.
“I don’t have many left, so my next couple of fights… I’m on my way out.
“I don’t want no easy fights, I want the hard fights. I told Eddie Hearn the other day, if he can get me the Bronze Bomber I’ll be happy.
“I want to fight everybody in my era. Win or lose, I just want to fight.”
Credit: Reuters Punch stats
According to CompuBox, Chisora threw a total of 526 but Pulev was busier with 796.
The Londoner also landed with LESS at 171 compared to Pulev’s 200.
But Chisora was more accurate, connecting with Chisora 33 per cent of his shots with Pulev landing at 25 per cent.
Credit: Reuters Chisora vs Pulev
Chisora addresses his fans, and says: “I last won a fight three years ago… it was hard. He’s a great fighter.
“I don’t have many left in me but what I do have I will give my all to you guys.
“I want the hard fights, I want to fight everybody.”
Chisora vs Pulev
Chisora thanks the fans as he enjoys his first win in three bouts.
He had Pulev rocked at times but also had to take some himself and proved value for money yet again.
Chisora looks in no rush to call it a day either.
Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing Chisora vs Pulev
Derek Chisora wants to fight Deontay Wilder after beating Kubrat Pulev.
Wilder has not returned since defeat fo Tyson Fury in their October 2021 trilogy.
It is a fight promoter Eddie Hearn has teased before.
Chisora vs Pulev
Chisora snaps his three-bout losing streak and lives to fight another day.
It was a slugfest but utterly enjoyable and Chisora’s pressure and body punching was rewarded.
He can look forward to another potentially blockbuster night now.
Credit: Reuters Chisora vs Pulev
Judges score the bout 116-112 to Pulev, 116-112 to Chisora and the deciding score goes to DEREK CHISORA!
Del Boy has won the rematch by split-decision and the O2 erupts.
He gets the nod on two of the scorecards and emerges victorious for the first time in four fights.
Credit: Reuters Chisora vs Pulev
And there it is, 24 rounds completed by the heavyweight veterans in the space of six years.
It’s going to be a tight one to call, did the judges favour Chisora’s pressure and body work or Pulev’s cleaner work?
Official decision to follow…
Credit: Reuters Chisora vs Pulev
Round 12 – Big right hand ROCKS Pulev’s head back but he returns fire right away.
Chisora again in the corner but Pulev struggles to land anything clean.
Couple of big body shots come in from Chisora but he gets himself back in the corner as the two slug it out until the final bell.
Credit: PA
Chisora vs Pulev
Round 11 – Right hand staggers Pulev back but the Bulgarian walks forward again.
Chisora is trapped in a corner but comes out firing with a wild and looping left hook.
Pulev is badly cut with blood streaming down, Chisora piles the pressure on as we head into the 12th and final round.
Credit: Reuters Chisora vs Pulev
Round 10 – Big overhand right lands for Chisora as sweat bounces off Pulev’s head.
Chisora evades a few but Pulev does land before his sequence of punches is over.
Three big rights land for Chisora before the bell sounds. But after it does BOTH rivals throw shots narrowly avoiding a brawl.
Credit: PA Chisora vs Pulev
Round 9 – Big right hand stumbles Pulev back as Chisora comes forward.
Back-and-forth action as the two trade heavy leather with Chisora landing the better.
Big right bounces off Chiosra, just after he landed a hook of his own, to cap off the most exciting rounds of the fight.
Credit: PA Chisora vs Pulev
Round 8 – The pace slows in the opening stage of the round.
But it kicks into life towards the end as Chisora is backed into the ropes following a big uppercut.
Chisora comes back with an overhand of his own but was shipping punishment on the ropes before.
Credit: Reuters Chisora vs Pulev
Round 7 – Big right hand lands for Chisora and Pulev is forced to cover up.
Puelv responds well and backs Chisora into a corner but the Brit charges forward again.
Another big shot lands over the top for Chisora and Pulev is cut, maybe from a headbutt. Potential turning point in the fight here.
Credit: PA Chisora vs Pulev
Round 6 – Big left hook lands for Chisora as the pair trade and he follows it up with an overhand right.
Pulev lands a pair of slashing hooks as Chisora tries to come underneath his guard.
Chisora ends the round on the ropes covering up but had enjoyed some success in the round as we enter the second half.
Credit: PA
Chisora vs Pulev
Round 5 – Pulev lands a couple of scoring short right hands as Chisora comes forward.
Chisora is non-stop pressure but finds himself taking right hands or uppercuts on the way in.
He’s landed a couple left hooks in the clinch while looking to rough Pulev up but the Bulgarian is controlling the range.
Kubrat Pulev (left) and Derek Chisora in the WBA International Heavyweight Title at the 02 Arena, London. Picture date: Saturday July 9, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story BOXING London. Photo credit should read: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.Credit: PA Chisora vs Pulev
Round 4 – Pulev has Chisora in a corner and lands a right after the Brit charges at him.
Chisora looks for a wild one over the top but Pulev sees it coming and counters with his own.
Flush left hook lands for Pulev but Chisora keeps coming and takes a few more before the bell rings.
Credit: Reuters Chisora vs Pulev
Round 3 – The pair trade clubbing right hands and then clinch to the ropes.
Big uppercut lands for Pulev but Chisora responds with a body attack and ducks underneath a combination.
Chisora spent most the round cominf forward, bobbing and weaving but he also walked into a few right hands from Pulev.
Credit: Getty Chisora vs Pulev
Round 2 – Pulev bashes Chisora into the ropes and begins to pour the pressure on.
Chisora lands some clubbing body shots of his own but takes a clean right hand.
He also ends the round well targeting the body but Pulev had landed the cleaner and more telling blows.
Credit: Getty Chisora vs Pulev
Round 1 – Opening round threatened to be a scrappy one but it kicked into life towards the end.
Chisora landed some decent body shot and at one point had Pulev cornered but had to bob and weave out of trouble himself.
A right hand over the top grazed Pulev and the Bulgarian was also troubled by some jabs of Chisora’s.
Chisora vs Pulev
Here we go, first round is underway.
Chisora stars on the front foot but the pair tussle as things get ugly early.
The Londoner is jabbing to the stomach and getting low, underneath Pulev’s punches.
Chisora vs Pulev
We are moments away from the first bell.
Derek Chisora and Kubrat Pulev do battle again – six years since their first war.
So much to gain for the winner, just as much if not more to lose though.
Del boy enters
Pulev is joined shortly after by Chisora, who switches up his usual ring walk of Hotel California.
O2 erupts as the popular heavyweight graces the ring yet again.
But he does so this time potentially fighting for his career in another tough fight.
HERE COMES PULEV
Kubrat Pulev makes his way to the ring, met with a chorus of boos.
He beat Derek Chisora in 2016 by split-decision in Germany.
And he says he will do it again, this time in Chisora’s hometown.
Prizefighter
Derek Chisora’s early career was marred by wild antics more worthy of the NME than the Boxing News but eight years of parenthood have mellowed the father of two — just.
He even reckons his hellraising heyday will help guarantee him a nice and sensible retirement.
Chisora said: “Life is about enjoyment. There is no point being a great athlete if you don’t enjoy the fruits of being an athlete.
“Cristiano Ronaldo enjoys his money in a different way — he has seven Bugattis, flies in private jets.
“But you can get good athletes who don’t do anything and then the day they announce their retirement, they start trying to catch up on the 16 or 17 years of living wildly that they missed.
“What happens is you become addicted to alcohol and the fast life, cocaine, everything.
“While you are doing that, others your age are settling down with their families.
“Me? I do both. Not the cocaine. But I go to parties, I enjoy life, I go to nice restaurants, I live in a nice house. And I enjoy life with my kids.”
Credit: PA
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
