Wilder Secures Split Decision Victory Over Chisora in London Heavyweight Bout

Wilder Edges Chisora in Split Decision Thriller at O2 Arena

London, England – Deontay Wilder secured a hard-fought split decision victory over Derek Chisora in the main event of a 10-bout boxing spectacle at the O2 Arena on April 03, 2026. The highly anticipated heavyweight contest marked the 50th professional fight for both athletes and their 100th combined in-ring appearance.

Main Event: Deontay Wilder vs. Derek Chisora

The clash of heavyweight veterans saw Deontay Wilder, 40, a former WBC heavyweight champion who held the title from 2015 to 2020 with 10 successful defenses, emerge victorious. Wilder entered the bout with a recent record of losing four of his previous six fights, though he was coming off a seventh-round TKO win over Tyrrell Herndon in June. He had expressed clear intentions to pursue another world championship title, with unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk having shown interest in a potential future matchup.

His opponent, Derek Chisora, 42, came into the fight with a record of 36-13 (23 KOs). Chisora was on a strong run, having secured three consecutive decision victories, including notable wins over Joe Joyce in July 2024 and Otto Wallin in February 2025. Holding the IBF mandatory challenger position for Oleksandr Usyk's world title, Chisora had publicly stated that this would be his final professional career fight. However, he did not confirm his retirement immediately after the match.

The fight went the full distance, culminating in a split decision victory for Wilder. Two judges scored the bout 115-111 and 115-113 in favor of Wilder, while the third judge saw it 115-112 for Chisora.

Key Moments from the Fight:

• Chisora was knocked down in the eighth round and pushed through the ropes, demonstrating immense resilience to continue.
• Wilder applied significant pressure throughout the contest, looking for a potential stoppage, but Chisora bravely weathered the storm.
• Both fighters sustained blows, showcasing the intensity of the heavyweight encounter.
• Chisora connected with a notable shot on Wilder in the fifth round, momentarily turning the tide.

Following the gruelling encounter, Wilder praised his opponent's tenacity. "I knew Derek was going to bring everything he had," he stated. He also emphasized the importance of fighter safety and well-being in the sport.

"I want him to live for his kids. It's time for us to take care of each other. I have seven of my own, those are my best friends." Wilder remarked, after noticing Chisora's temple swell during the fight.

Undercard Results

The event featured a comprehensive undercard with both main card and preliminary bouts delivering exciting action.

• Cruiserweight (EBU European Cruiserweight Title / IBF Eliminator): Viddal Riley defeated Mateusz Masternak via unanimous decision (118-110, 118-110, 119-109), securing a significant title and eliminator win.
• WBO Interim Middleweight Title: Denzel Bentley defeated Endry Saavedra via seventh-round TKO at 1:38.
• Heavyweight: Matty Harris defeated Franklin Ignatius via second-round TKO at 0:20.
• Middleweight: Amir Anderson defeated Jordan Dujon via eighth-round TKO at 2:19.

• Super Lightweight: Ashton Sylve defeated Raul Antonio Galaviz Hernandez via unanimous decision (80-72, 80-72, 78-74).
• Super Featherweight: Jermaine Dhilwayo defeated Jake Morgan via seventh-round TKO at 2:04.
• Super Welterweight: Dan Toward defeated Misael Da Veiga via third-round TKO at 1:39.
• Featherweight: Tom Welland defeated Yahir Alexander Solorio Morales via points (40-36). (One source reported the opponent as Alexander Morales with scores of 40-37 x3).