Derek Chisora delivered a stunning performance against Otto Wallin, scoring two knockdowns and securing a unanimous-decision victory in his latest bout at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester. The judges scored the match 117-109, 114-112, and 116-110 in favor of Chisora, who is preparing for retirement after his 50th fight.
Despite battling through a cut over his eye for much of the match, the 41-year-old fighter showcased remarkable resilience. He is now poised for a potential world title shot after this fight served as an eliminator for the IBF heavyweight title, currently held by Daniel Dubois, who is scheduled to face Joseph Parker on February 22.
“It was a very emotional day for me today,” Chisora said post-fight. “I was in tears because I love the sport and love the fans. When I got the cut, something happened in the third round—I didn’t tell my trainers, but my ears popped, and I decided I was going to carry on.”
Chisora’s camp presented photos of heavyweight champions Daniel Dubois, Oleksandr Usyk, and Anthony Joshua to the crowd, asking fans to choose who he should face next. The Manchester audience responded enthusiastically to Usyk and Joshua as possible opponents for his final fight, while Chisora has expressed a desire to fight Dillian Whyte or Francis Ngannou.
His promoter stated, “Whatever he wants, we will make it happen. He has now won an eliminator for the IBF title, and that’s in the bag.”
In an action-packed match, Chisora charged out of the gate, landing heavy shots on Wallin and showing no signs of backing down, even after suffering a cut in the fifth round. He continued to deliver punishing blows, including a series of nearly 30 consecutive punches in the eighth round, ultimately securing another victory in his illustrious career.
Fans can look forward to Daniel Dubois facing Joseph Parker and the highly anticipated rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, scheduled for February 22.
