- Derek Chisora emerged victorious against Joe Joyce in their heavyweight showdown on Saturday.
- This match was meant to be a farewell bout for Chisora, who clinched the win through unanimous decision.
Derek Chisora solidified his status as a true warrior, captivating his fans at the O2 Arena.
A large crowd gathered to bid him farewell, witnessing him unleash a flurry of powerful punches on Joe Joyce during what intended to be a final performance, which quickly evolved into a memorable triumph that he now wishes to replicate.
Whether this is a wise choice for him — or for Joyce, who endured monumental punishment — remains to be seen.
Nevertheless, the intensity of the bout that unfolded over ten harrowing rounds by the Thames is undeniable.
It’s rare to witness two fighters inflict such extensive damage upon one another; either competitor could have knocked out any other heavyweight with ease.
Derek Chisora (left) secured a unanimous decision victory over Joe Joyce on Saturday night
Chisora scored a knockdown during the ninth round of the match
Joyce fought valiantly but ultimately fell short in the exciting bout at the O2 Arena
The event was graced by heavyweight icons outside the ring as well. Oleksandr Usyk, having bested Anthony Joshua twice and Tyson Fury, crossed over from Paris where he is aiding Ukraine’s Olympic boxers.
Before taking his seat at ringside, Usyk visited Chisora’s dressing room to express gratitude for his contribution to his journey from undisputed world cruiserweight champion to heavyweight champion.
After receiving a stiff challenge during his heavyweight debut, Usyk referred to Chisora as ‘the hardest puncher I’ve ever encountered.’
Regarding Fury, with whom he holds a rematch for three major titles scheduled in Ryadh during Christmas week, Usyk remarked: ‘he possesses the highest IQ.’
But that intelligence wasn’t going to be the deciding factor in the main event he came to witness. Joyce and Chisora were there to inflict pain upon each other, a journey that seemed aimed at retirement.
Cheers erupted for Chisora, while Joyce received respectful applause.
Chisora opened up the fight with powerful body shots, followed by heavy left hooks to the head.
The match was a hard-fought back-and-forth battle between the two heavyweight stars
Joyce’s ability to absorb massive punches and counterattack was impressive
Joyce’s resilience was highlighted again when he took 15 heavy left hooks to the jaw in the second round, along with several right punches for good measure.
Despite the brutal onslaught, Joyce responded with some powerful strikes, although his difficulty in avoiding punches left him shaken.
Chisora had his sights set on a knockout in the fifth round and came very close. Joyce endured so much punishment that in his desperation, he landed a strike after the bell for the end of the fifth round.
A stern warning was issued, but Chisora was clearly feeling the impact as Joyce began to unleash at the start of the sixth round.
When it was Chisora’s turn to withstand the onslaught, he proved equally heroic with a granite chin.
Through chaos, he found a lethal straight right that sent the Juggernaut down.
Even as he stumbled in the tenth and final round, he continued to hammer Joyce.
