Dereck Chisora Info

Dereck Chisora is a Zimbabwean-born British professional boxer. He has challenged once for the WBC heavyweight title against Vitali Klitschko in 2012. At regional level he has held multiple heavyweight titles, including the British and Commonwealth titles from 2010 to 2011, and the European title from 2013 to 2014. As an amateur, he won the ABA super-heavyweight championship in 2006.

Early life

Chisora was born in Mbare, a suburb of the Zimbabwean capital Harare. As a teenager he attended Churchill School. Chisora and his family moved to the United Kingdom when he was 16 and lived in Finchley, London. Chisora had around 20 amateur fights, which included winning the 2006 ABA super heavyweight title, after defeating Tom Dallas in the final, and a gold medal at the Four Nations Championships.

Chisora turned professional on 17 February 2007, scoring a second round technical knockout against István Kecskés. After winning three more fights, he came up against the toughest test of his career in fellow rising British heavyweight prospect, Sam Sexton. Chisora won the fight by stopping Sexton in the final 30 seconds of the final round. He moved on from the win over Sexton by beating Shawn Mclean, an American, at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Mayfair, and then stopped the experienced Lee Swaby in three rounds at the York Hall.

Chisora vs. Williams, Sexton II

Chisora was scheduled to face the IBF, WBO, IBO, Lineal and Ring magazine heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko on 11 December 2010, but Klitschko pulled out of the fight three days prior with a torn abdominal muscle. The fight was later rescheduled for 30 April 2011, but this was later cancelled so Klitschko could fight David Haye on 2 July.

Chisora vs. Fury, Helenius

On 23 July 2011, Chisora defended his British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles against the upcoming prospect Tyson Fury, who like Chisora, had a record of 14–0 entering the fight. The fight was also televised live in the United States on PPV. Outlet Integrated Sports picked up the fight charging $24.95 for a live airing at 3 p.m. EDT. Fury won by unanimous decision with scores of 117–112, 117–112, and 118–111.

On 3 December, Chisora faced undefeated Robert Helenius in Helsinki, Finland for the vacant European heavyweight title. Helenius won by split decision after two judges scored the fight 115–113 to Helenius and the third scored it 115–113 to Chisora. The decision was highly debated as most pundits and onlookers thought Chisora had done enough to get the decision. The Ring considered the outcome of the match “a gift”, dropping Helenius’ ranking from fifth to sixth challenger. Chisora complained afterwards demanding a rematch on a neutral territory.

Chisora vs. Klitschko

Sources in Germany reported that Chisora was likely to fight Ukrainian WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko on 18 February 2012 at Munich’s Olympiahalle. On 12 December 2011, it was confirmed that Klitschko would be Chisora’s next opponent. Chisora slapped Klitschko at the weigh in for the heavyweight title fight and was widely criticised. Chisora is quoted as saying after the slap “I ain’t come here to play games I come here to fight.

Chisora vs. Haye

On 14 March 2012, the British Boxing Board of Control withdrew Chisora’s boxing licence due to his behaviour prior to and after his bout with Klitschko. The WBC issued an indefinite suspension against Chisora fighting again for a WBC title, while demanding he take anger management treatment after which his suspension will be reconsidered. A year later, on 12 March 2013, the British Boxing Board of Control re-issued Chisora his license to box.

Chisora vs. Scott

It was confirmed that Chisora would return two months later on 20 July at the Wembley Arena, against undefeated American boxer Malik Scott, for the vacant WBO International heavyweight title. Chisora won the bout via controversial knockout in round 6, following an over hand right. Scott was warned by the referee throughout the contest for repeated fouling and clinching, but was not penalized. Scott boxed well with his jab, while Chisora scored well with body punches.

Chisora vs. Gerber, Pala

Chisora next fought on 21 September for the vacant European heavyweight title against 25-year-old German boxer Edmund Gerber at the Copper Box Arena. The fight was announced 20 days prior to the fight taking place. Chisora controlled the fight from the opening bell, eventually drawing blood from Gerber after three rounds. The fight came to end in round five when Chisora threw combinations which went unanswered. The referee stepped in waiving the fight off. Chisora entered the ring in tears following the recent death of his mentor, Dean Powell. At the time of stoppage, Chisora was ahead 40–36 on all three judges’ scorecards.

Chisora vs. Johnson, Fury II

On 27 January 2014, it was announced that Chisora would fight American boxer Kevin Johnson at the Copper Box in London on 15 February 2014. Chisora won by unanimous decision after twelve rounds. The official judges’ scorecards read 118–109, 118–109, and 118–110 in favour of Chisora. This set up a second fight against Tyson Fury in London, although after the fight, Chisora also called out former WBA titleholder Alexander Povetkin.

Chisora vs. Pulev

After a period of eight months without a fight since his defeat to Fury, Chisora won five fights in five months against low ranked European opponents, helping set up a fight for the recently vacated European heavyweight title against highly ranked Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in Hamburg on 7 May 2016. The bout was also an eliminator for the IBF heavyweight title. Despite what had seemed a fairly comfortable points win for Pulev the fight ended in a split decision, with two judges scoring it 118–110 and 116–112 in Pulev’s favour while the third scored it 115–113 for Chisora. The defeat left Chisora’s chances of a world title shot against IBF champion Anthony Joshua in doubt.

Chisora vs. Whyte

Terms were finally agreed for a fight between Chisora and British heavyweight champion Dillian Whyte to fight in a WBC title eliminator for Whyte’s British heavyweight title. The fight took place in Manchester on the undercard of the Anthony Joshua vs. Éric Molina heavyweight title fight. Chisora and Whyte were feuding over the year through social media. The hype continued through to the press conference on 7 December when, following Whyte’s comment that he’d attack Chisora anytime he would see him after the fight, Chisora picked up the table he was sitting at and threw it towards Whyte, just missing everyone in the way which included the promoters and trainers.

Chisora vs. Kabayel

On pursuing a rematch with Dillian Whyte, on 31 August 2017, Chisora announced that he had split with promoter Team Sauerland, but re-signed with manager Steve Goodwin. On 20 September Eddie Hearn announced that Chisora had signed with Matchroom Sport, making his debut on the Paul Butler-Stuart Hall undercard on 30 September at the Echo Arena in Liverpool live on Sky Sports.

Chisora vs. Takam

After a month of speculation, on 15 June 2018, a fight between Chisora and former world title challenger Carlos Takam was finally announced to take place at the O2 Arena in London on 28 July 2018, with the bout taking place on the undercard of Dillian Whyte vs. Joseph Parker on Sky Box Office. Takam started the fight out-working Chisora, who spent most of the rounds against the ropes looking for counters. Chisora began to take more punishment as the fight progressed and fell clearly behind on the scorecards.

Chisora vs. Whyte II

In mid October 2018, Whyte and Cuban boxer Luis Ortiz appeared to have a war of words and called each other out, with Ortiz stating he would come to the UK and fight Whyte on 22 December, a potential PPV date allocated to the possible Whyte vs. Chisora rematch. After hearing this, Chisora came out saying ‘No one wants to see that’, that he was ‘the Money Man’ and Whyte should fight him if he wants to earn more money. Hearn also stated despite Ortiz putting his name forward, Chisora was the front-runner to fight Whyte.

Chisora vs. Gashi, Szpilka

On 20 April 2019, as the co-main event to Dave Allen vs. Lucas Browne, Chisora in his first bout under new trainer Dave Coldwell, won a comfortable unanimous points decision on the judges’ scorecards, which read 99–91, 100–90, and 100–91 against 29-year-old German boxer Senad Gashi, after 10 far from entertaining rounds against an opponent who frustrated the Briton with his elusive style at The O2 Arena. Gashi, who suffered the third defeat of his 20-fight professional career which included 17 early knockouts in 17 victories, switched southpaw from the opening bell, landed an effective counter punch in the second but Chisora connected with a good body shot in the third and took control of the fight. Chisora continued to be the aggressor throughout but his opponent survived to the end of the contest.

Chisora vs. Price

On 8 October 2019, David Price was announced as Dereck Chisora’s replacement opponent at the O2 Arena. Chisora pressured Price from the start of the contest and floored his opponent in the fourth round as the fight was called to a halt following the Price corner throwing in the towel. On 11 March 2020, a fight between Chisora and undefeated former undisputed cruiserweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk was announced to take place at the O2 Arena in London on 23 May 2020, live on Sky Sports Box Office but was postponed due to The COVID-19 pandemic.

Personal life

In November 2010, Chisora was found guilty of assaulting his then-girlfriend after finding text messages from another man on her phone. He narrowly escaped being sent to prison, and was given a 12-week sentence suspended for two years. He was ordered to pay £1,500 in compensation and £500 costs and complete 150 hours community work. The court was told that the fighter also had previous convictions for public order offences, assaulting a police officer and possession of an offensive weapon.