DEREK CHISORA is facing Swede Otto Wallin RIGHT NOW in his final fight on UK soil!
Chisora has enjoyed a sparkling heavyweight career, but the 41-year-old has expressed his desire to retire after 50 fights with hopes of his last bout in Africa.
However his 49th and penultimate fight tonight is now an IBF final eliminator – meaning Del Boy could sign off his career with a stunning title fight next up if he wins.
On what was a thrilling undercard, Sofiane Khati stunned Nathan Heaney with a seventh-round stoppage.
- Start time: 10.37pm GMT
- TV channel: TNT Sports 1
- Live stream: Discovery+
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CHISORA VS WALLIN R8
Chisora is relentless! He piles on the pressure to Wallin in the corner!
War unloads an absolute BARRAGE on the Swede – nothing landed exceptionally clean but Wallin was on the edge there.
Let’s hope Chisora hasn’t gassed hmself.
He goes for it again, only this time Wallin lands a nice left counter that opens up that cut again.
Blood pouring into his eye he continues to press forward. This is absolutely sensational.
This has to be another Chisora round – by my books, Del Boy is 7-1 up AT WORST.
CHISORA CUT
This came from an accidental clash of heads – confirmed by the referee – and the bleeding appears to have slowed.
But this looked very bad in rounds 5 and 6.
CHISORA VS WALLIN R7
Chisora has slowed his pace in this round but Wallin is refusing to push on.
Chisora continues to walk forward and while the accuracy has dropped, the guts and the desire certainly have not.
There are some wild swings coming in but not much is landing.
Wallin still refuses to really let his hands go, but this is definitely a better round for the Swede – keeping Chisora at the end of his jab.
Wallin looked to have won that round but in the final 20 seconds Chisora ups the tempo and flies in with ten massive shots.
This is absolutely among the best performances of his career – he might have nicked that round with the late salvo and Wallin is delighted to hear that bell.
He was on the ropes and really struggling.
CHISORA VS WALLIN R6
Well, Chisora has looked excellent in this fight but that cut is really giving him a bit of trouble, you can see him squinting and blood pouring into his eye.
The ref takes a break and gets the doctor to have a long look…
We can continue for now but this is a big issue for Chisora into the second half of the fight.
But War by name, War by nature – he’s still pushing forward.
This would be as cruel an ending to a fight you could ever want to see.
Chisora is absolutely not fussed though, he keeps coming forward.
Wallin might have seen that cut as a signal to put his foot on the gas but he’s still tentatie.
I’d call that for Chisora as well.
CHISORA VS WALLIN R5
The script doesn’t change to start the fifth, he walks Wallin down and the Swede continues to back pedal.
Couple of jabs for Chisora land and he continues to get the better of his opponent when they do get up close and personal.
Wallin finally lands a couple of nice rights but again they are just in ones.
Chisora then lands two big right hooks – and then a REALLY big one.
Chisora has no problems taking Wallin’s jab, it has no venom on it at all.
But as we say that, Wallin finally fires in a very sharp left that finally lands with a nice thud.
It doesn’t deter Chisora at all but a VERY nasty cut has now opened up over Del’s right eye.
I still have Chisora winning that round but that cut could play a big part.
It looks like it was from a clash of heads.
CHISORA VS WALLIN R4
Chisora looking much better than Wallin here, he’s certainly not fussed at all by the power the Swede has in his gloves.
His pace has slowed a little bit as Wallin starts to work on his counters a more.
But he’s only throwing in ones, this is not good enough at all.
Chisora then goes back to the body and ups the pace in the middle of the round.
Wallin continues to move backwards and get manhandles by Del – a nice left hook then a short right on the inside both land well.
More good work from Chisora.
CHISORA VS WALLIN R3
More of the same to start this round as Chisora comes forward and Wallin backs off.
They get tangled up and the ref has to have a stern word with the Brit about shots to the back of the head.
They then get tangled up close and throw some shots on each other.
Then finally – Chisora lands a very nice right hand on Wallin that sends him back into the corner.
The Swede doesn’t look in any immediate danger but then Chisora lands another big one over the top, that was a great shot.
Wallin looks very nervy here – he doesn’t want to throw anything except a pawing jab.
‘Oh, Derek Chisora!’ rings out around the Arena.
Chisora must take that round again, all the pressure and the two best shots of the fight.
CHISORA VS WALLIN R2
Chisora’s corner tells him to just relax it a bit and try and establish the double jab.
Wallin looks a bit tentative but then lands a nice counter to make sure Del doesn’t keep moving forward.
But come forward he does and the veteran continues to push him back onto the ropes and try to work inside.
Wallin continues to take backwards steps here as Chisora’s pressure is relentless.
The Swede has spent a lot of time on the ropes in this fight – he’s not throwing much back, he’s just trying to weather the pressure here.
Chisora hasn’t landed anything clean, but the judges should be impressed by that work rate.
2-0 Chisora in my book.
CHISORA VS WALLIN R1
Chisora starts the fight by walking down Wallin.
It’s a small ring tonight – 18ft – with Chisora’s camp wanting that smaller size.
It’s a scrappy start as Del looks to work the body and get on the inside.
Wallin is so far happy to just look for a counter or two but there’s not been much quality from either fighter so far.
Neither man has established their jab just yet as Chisora keeps the pressure on inside,.
Two to the body and a left to the head go in nicely, not perfectly but scoring shots.
Chisora takes that one.
Huge roar for Del
It seemed impossible a decade ago when he was the pantomime villain of British boxing, but Chisora is getting an incredible response from fight fans at the Co-op.
The 41-year-old star has become one of the most popular fighters around for his huge back catalogue of brilliant fights and his desire to never duck a challenge.
We’re just moments away from kick off in this one.
Here comes Del Boy
Derek Chisora now makes his way to the ring for the 49th time of his professional career.
Chisora promised a ‘hall of fame’ ring walk.
Hotel California by The Eagles is the song choice – and Chisora looks like a bandito from a 50s Cowboy film.
He’s all in black with his trademark Union Jack flag bandanna covering his face.
The back of his jacket has the number 49 with crossed pistols.
War is here!
Wallin on his way
Otto Wallin is now making his way to the ring.
He arrives with AC/DC anthem Thunderstruck blaring out over the speakers.
Chisora in tears
In case you missed it earlier on tonight, Del Boy was a bit emotional when he made his way to the venue.
Chisora could be seen in tears in the bowels of the arena as he takes another step towards retirement.
But there is a LOT at stake tonight.
This fight is now an eliminator for the IBF heavyweight title – meaning the winner will face either Daniel Dubois or Joseph Parker.
Sweet Caroline…
The anthem is being belted out inside the Co-op Arena in Manchester which can only mean one thing – the big fight is on very shortly!
A 10.30pm ring walk would be absolutely perfect…
HEANEY LOSES
Wow that is a massive loss for Nathan Heaney.
The former British champ was the heavy favourite for that one and was definitely ahead on rounds going into the seventh.
Heaney definitely slowed considerably after that big shot in the fourth.
But he never looked like he had the power to trouble Khati, while the Frenchman was throwing with venom and hurting the Brit.
We’re not sure what this means for Heaney next.
He’s already 35 and has still not won since November 2023.
HEANEY VS KHATI R7 – KHATI WINS BY TKO!
Carl Frampton on TNT says the sixth was better for Heaney and he needs to stick to that style to win this fight – the message from the corner also remains the same, “simple!”
But it goes very badly for Heaney – huge controversy here!
Heaney goes down from a massive right and looks like he’s out of it!
He’s wobbling everywhere but lost his gumshield and the ref gives him lots of time to get it back in and recover.
But it doesn’t matter – Khati pounces on Heaney and catches him with some massive shots.
Referee Bob Williams jumps in and it’s all over!
HEANEY VS KHATI R6
Heaney’s corner yells for him to “keep it simple!” as he comes in after the fifth.
Heaney is looking a bit like a deer in the headlights right now but then goes to work behind his jab and a few straight rights.
Khati then flies in with a wild left hook but Heaney doesn’t want to let his hands go despite the opening.
He’s boxing pretty risk-free, just being methodical and working behind that job.
Khati is proving himself to be a very tough and awkward, though – he lands a shot late that may take the round.
HEANEY VS KHATI R5
Khati comes running out of the corner and looks to unload a big right hand.
It doesn’t land but it makes Heaney think again, he’s not at his best here at all.
Heaney then starts to work behind that jab again, but he’s clearly been affected by the big right in the fourth – he’s looking much less assured than he was in the first three.
Wow! Khati then flies in with a massive left hook that throws Heaney back against the ropes!
He hangs on and manages to survive – it looks like a cut has now opened up above his left eye.
Khati is full of confidence here and Heaney needs to go up through the gears and quickly.
HEANEY VS KHATI R4
Heaney starts the round well but then leaves himself wide open for a right hand down the middle.
It’s not perfect but it’s enough to make Heaney think twice – and he now has blood running from his nose.
Definitely mark that one for the Frenchman, a little bit rusty from Heaney.
HEANEY VS KHATI R3
Heaney continues to work behind that jab.
Khati then unloads a nice combo but fails to follow up.
Heany controls the centre of the ring and scores another round – not vintage stuff but more than enough to earn himself a 10-9.
HEANEY VS KHATI R1
Stoke’s middleweight hero plays chief support now against tough French test Sofiane Khati.
The Potters fan needs a win to edge closer to fight at his beloved Bet 365 stadium.
With his moustache a touching tribute to his dad, Heaney raises the roof with Stokies roaring “he’s one of our own”.
RAFFERTY WINS TKO R7
Macmillan’s corner throw in the towel as their man suffers more punishment.
Rafferty climbs the corner to celebrate and Macmillan is unhappy with his team.
But it takes a brave and very decent trainer to pull his fighter out.
And it feels like Bob Howard made the right call as his lad was getting beaten up.
RAFFERTY VS MACMILLAN R6
Massive round for Rafferty as he batters Macmillan around the Co-Op arena.
A big right hand wobbled the brave challenger and a second wave of abuse left him pinned on the ropes and needing saving by the bell.
Macmillan’s lost the brief bit of dominance he enjoyed.
We reckon it’s 5-1.
RAFFERTY VS MACMILLAN R5
Rafferty grabs control back with a strong fifth.
A heavy jab rocks Macmillan’s head back.
And a later right hand crashes into his cheekbone. It’s a rollercoaster of a fight now.
But feels like 4-1 to Rafferty.
RAFFERTY VS MACMILLAN R4
Macmillan loses his gumshield and gets a breather while it’s picked up and placed back in.
Macmillan lands a flush right hand, his best of the night so far.
But it doesn’t put a dent in Rafferty who has to swallow a handful of more punches which cost him the session.
Rafferty up 3-1 on our unofficial card.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
