Deontay Wilder and Derek Chisora left it to the judges after twelve all-action rounds.
Many had predicted the fight – number 50 for both men – would end inside the distance, with Chisora backed to take advantage of what many assumed to be a faded Wilder, or Wilder to find his form and finish it with one of those famous right hands.
Though each man landed significantly, with Chisora testing Wilder’s chin via looping overhand rights and Wilder putting the Brit on the canvas on two occasions, the contest reached the final bell. The American won via split decision, with scores of 115-111 and 115-113 in his favour and one 115-112 for Chisora.
Speaking on the DAZN broadcast, WBO heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley agreed that Wilder did enough to earn the nod.
“Deontay for me. Hard fight to score, it was a fight. It was a lot of what you like. But at the end of the day I do think the right man won.”
While Chisora – who believes he won the fight – may retire following the defeat, Wilder’s message was loud and clear – he intends to have another crack at the very top of the division. One route back to becoming champion would be against Wardley, who has often been likened to the American due to his own one-punch power.
If fans felt Wilder-Chisora was unlikely to go the distance, you would be hard pressed to find anyone at all betting on a fight with Wardley requiring the judges.
As ‘The Bronze Bomber’ now recovers from an injured, perhaps broken, hand, Wardley prepares for the first defence of his belt against Daniel Dubois next month.
