Derek Chisora’s party goes on.
One of British boxing’s most popular characters was up against it tonight in his fight with Otto Wallin at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena, but rolled back the years to take a unanimous decision victory. The scorecards read 117-109, 114-112 and 116-110 in what was billed as the Londoner’s final dance in the UK.
Many thought it was one fight too many, but Chisora didn’t disappoint the thousands who came out to witness him for the penultimate time.
You would have thought Chisora was a Manchester native by the support he received during his iconic walk to The Eagles’ “Hotel California”. He took his time and seemed to take in every second.
Chisora, roared on by the 13,000 strong Manchester crowd, then asserted himself from the off and took the fight to Sweden’s Wallin. Chisora, now 36-13 (23 KOs), pawed his jab into Wallin’s face and whipped in his slow but thudding hooks. Most of Chisora’s work landed on the arms of the Swede but a left landed clean on Wallin’s temple as the round came to a close.
Wallin, now 27-3 (15 KOs), was struggling to deal with Chisora’s pressure and had to make do with fighting off the ropes, although the Swede landed his fair share of shots back. Chisora was slow but effective, and in the third landed a right hand that Wallin clearly felt but took well. Chisora slowed a little in the fourth and Wallin, 34, was able to have more success off the back foot, landing his jab at will on occasion.
Chisora, at the ripe age of 41, looked as though he was feeling the pace as he left his corner for the fifth, but those who have watched the Londoner in recent years will know this so often happens and that he is somehow able to soldier on. His tiredness seemed to spark something in Chisora and he whipped in his trademark hooks and bullied Wallin around the ring. As the sixth began, Chisora came in to land another of his wild hooks but Wallin timed him well. He fired in a counter left which slashed a nasty cut above the right eye of Chisora.
The cut was a bad one and Chisora knew it. The ringside doctor had a look and allowed the fight to continue but there was a growing sense that Chisora was on borrowed time. The cut did not deter Chisora from pressing on and he now pushed for the knockout knowing his time was limited. The cutman worked wonders in the interval; the blood flowing into Chisora’s eye was gone and the Londoner responded. He had his best round of the fight and late on landed a left which rocked Wallin and then followed it up with a right buzzing the Swede. The bell unfortunately interrupted a brilliant exchange, but Wallin appeared thankful.
Chisora’s famous fighting spirit was on display in the eighth, as he valiantly battled through the blood that had begun to flow into his eye and took the fight to Wallin. The Swede was helplessly pinned on the ropes and Chisora took full advantage. He bombarded his opponent with hooks that seemed to come up from the floor. Onwards he pushed and the aging heavyweight landed his best shot of the fight in the ninth; an overhand right hand which only seemed to glance the chin of Wallin sent the Swede stumbling back and down on to the canvas.
Chisora, covered in blood and feeling the pace, rallied the Manchester crowd as he retreated to the corner in the tenth. The veteran was ahead on the cards but now heading into the championship rounds, which he had not experienced since 2022 against Kubrat Pulev. Chisora found energy from somewhere only he knows and pressed the fight. Blood still flowing into his eye, he stuck out his tongue at Wallin and Wallin had no reply.
In the twelfth, Chisora again soldiered on. His face was drenched in blood, but he didnt care. He dug deep, despite his exhaustion, and seconds before the final bell landed another thunderous right sent Wallin into a heap.
Wallin rose to his feet at the sound of the bell and Chisora, too tired to celebrate, was helped back to his corner by his team. He had done it again; 41 years old and still upsetting the odds.
The pair awaited the official decision and the Manchester crowd roared as they heard the words “WAR CHISORA”.
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