Chisora v Wallin: Bloodied Derek Chisora beats Otto Wallin in UK finale

British heavyweight boxer Derek Chisora delivered an outstanding performance in his farewell fight in the UK, defeating Otto Wallin by unanimous decision to secure victory. Chisora dominated from the first round in the sold-out match at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, knocking Wallin down twice.

The referee ultimately declared Chisora the winner with scores of 117-109, 114-112, and 116-110. This victory brings Chisora's overall record to 36 wins in 49 fights. After the match, Chisora stated, "I thought he would run out of steam, but he didn't, I was wrong. It was a tough fight."

Earlier this week, the match was elevated to an International Boxing Federation (IBF) world title eliminator. This means Chisora is now expected to face the current champion, Daniel Dubois, or Joseph Parker, who will compete on February 22nd. Numerous boxing figures, including former four-division world champion Roberto Duran and WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball, were also present to watch Chisora's farewell performance in the UK.

After the victory was announced, the 41-year-old Chisora entered the ring with British rappers Skepta, Tinie Tempah, and Chipmunk, and invited fans to vote for his opponent for his 50th fight. Chisora plans to retire after that match and hopes it can be held overseas. Chisora added, "My legacy is not created by me, it is created by the fans."

In the lead-up to his farewell fight in the UK, Chisora had stated that it was an emotional week. When he arrived at the venue earlier, he was visibly moved, and TNT's live broadcast showed him in tears. However, when he walked towards the ring wearing a cowboy hat, Chisora had composed himself and was warmly welcomed by the audience, with fans singing "Hotel California" together.

From the start of the match, Chisora took the initiative, attacking aggressively and not giving Wallin space to retreat behind his jab. Short body and head attacks were enough to sustain Chisora through the early stages of the match, and a looping right hand in the third round forced Wallin to retreat. In the fifth round, Chisora suffered a cut above his right eye, but he passed the doctor's examination in the sixth round and continued to dominate in close-range exchanges.

In the ninth round, a looping right hand knocked Wallin down, and he staggered on the boxing ring, but got up when counted to eight. After hearing the 10-second warning in the final round, Chisora launched a fierce attack on Wallin and knocked his opponent down, with Wallin being saved by the bell. During his 18-year career, Chisora has faced some of the sport's most renowned boxers, including three fights against Tyson Fury, two against Dillian Whyte and Joseph Parker, and has also lost to Vitali Klitschko and Oleksandr Usyk.

This is Chisora's third consecutive victory after defeating Gerald Washington and Joe Joyce. Chisora is the third boxer to defeat Wallin, after Fury and Anthony Joshua. Only 7 of Chisora's 49 professional matches have been held outside the UK, and this was his fourth match in Manchester. Chisora's previous three matches in Manchester – two against Parker and one against Whyte – all ended in defeat.

Chisora has made it clear that he wants to fight one more match after his bout with Wallin. The news that the match was upgraded to an IBF eliminator added more pressure on the veteran. The Zimbabwean-born London boxer first competed for a world title in 2012, when he lost to WBC heavyweight champion Klitschko, and he also lost to Fury in 2022, when the WBC gold belt was also at stake. After defeating Wallin, Chisora may have a third opportunity to compete for a gold belt.

Chisora urged fans to help him choose his next opponent, with WBA (Super), WBC, and WBO champion Usyk, as well as former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua, also under his consideration.