CHISORA: THE UNDERDOG FAVOURITE

Heavyweight boxing has changed. A good big’un doesn’t always beat a good little’un, anymore. Just ask Tyson Fury. Style over concussive power might win you the world, but will it win you love?

Even if he had lost this roll of the dice, forty ninth fight which even he last week said was his last, Derek Chisora embodied heavyweight boxing. One punch changes your life. Or worse.

Contrarily lovable and terrifying, the man has breathed, sweat and bled for every iota of adulation he has. An obstinate fucker, Chisora has earned his Hollywood crescendo, again. War's momentum never dimmed even through his claret soaked yeux.

A cynic might suggest the bruiser formerly known as Del Boy had it all set up so perfectly, with a bowing out bout elevated to eliminator and broadcasters subtly shifting their emphasis on “final” fight. A cynic didn’t eat the leather Derek “War” Chisora did, or worse what Otto Wallin had to endure during a far too kind 114-112, 116-110, 117-109 unanimous loss to him.

Wallin was dropped twice and anyone who has seen those glassy eyes before knows how hard he was hurt. 

Everything about Chisora is old school heavyweight. Romantic except this isn’t a film, the repercussions are and will be real. In a way that makes what Derek is doing, for maybe one more fight, more defiant, more risky and more valiant.

The belligerent, one punch shot. The guy who can tough it out, look tired but wind up the sucker punch. The underdog who is more loved than the favourite.

Derek Chisora is a forty one year old, forty nine fight veteran who hasn’t left the top table since his first loss to Tyson Fury in 2011. He’s fought non stop and even thirteen defeats later, Derek Chisora is only one punch away from glory. That’s heavyweight boxing.