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Derek Chisora facts for kids

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Derek Chisora
Dereck Chisora.JPG
Chisora in 2011
Statistics
Nickname(s)
  • Del Boy
  • War
Rated at Heavyweight
Height 6 ft 2 in
Reach 74 in
Born (1983-12-29) 29 December 1983 (age 41)
Harare, Zimbabwe
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 48
Wins 35
Wins by KO 23
Losses 13
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
English National Championships
Gold 2006 London Super-heavyweight

Derek Chisora (born 29 December 1983) is a Zimbabwean-British professional boxer. He has fought for the WBC heavyweight world title twice, in 2012 and 2022. He has also won many important boxing titles at a regional level. These include the British and Commonwealth titles from 2010 to 2011. He also held the European title from 2013 to 2014. As an amateur boxer (meaning he didn't get paid), he won the ABA super-heavyweight title in 2006. He is also known for his big win against world champion Kubrat Pulev.

As of January 2024, Chisora is considered one of the top 10 heavyweight boxers in the world by BoxRec. He has been ranked among the world's top 10 heavyweights since 2013. He was even ranked as high as number 5 in the world in 2013 and 2020. About 65% of his wins have come from knockouts.

Early Life and Start in Boxing

Growing Up in Zimbabwe and London

Derek Chisora was born on 29 December 1983 in Mbare, a part of Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe. His parents are Viola and Paul Chisora. After his parents divorced when he was four years old, Chisora lived in Hatfield. He was cared for by his grandmother and step-grandfather. As a teenager, he went to Churchill School. There, he helped as a first-aider for the school's sports teams. Chisora and his family moved to the United Kingdom in 1999 when he was 16. They lived in Finchley, London.

Amateur Boxing Days

Chisora started boxing a bit later than some, at the age of 19. His boxing club, Finchley ABC, was in Barnet, North London. This club was also home to another famous heavyweight boxer, Anthony Joshua. Chisora had about 20 amateur fights. During this time, he won the 2006 ABA super heavyweight title. He beat Tom Dallas in the final. He also won a gold medal at the Four Nations Championships.

Professional Boxing Journey

Starting His Professional Career

Chisora became a professional boxer with Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions. His first professional fight was on 17 February 2007, in London. He won by technical knockout (TKO) in the second round. He continued to win his early fights, showing his strength and determination. In June 2008, he faced Sam Sexton, another undefeated British heavyweight. Chisora won by TKO in the last round. By the end of 2008, he had an impressive record of 8 wins and no losses.

In 2009, Chisora continued his winning streak. He won his tenth fight against Paul Butlin. However, he was suspended for four months because he bit Butlin's ear during the fight. This meant he missed a chance to fight for the British heavyweight title. He returned to the ring in October 2009, winning by TKO.

Becoming British and Commonwealth Champion

Winning the British Title

On 15 May 2010, Chisora finally got his chance to fight Danny Williams for the British heavyweight title. Chisora won the title by stopping Williams in the second round. He put Williams under pressure from the start. After the fight, Williams announced his retirement from boxing.

Adding the Commonwealth Title

On 18 September 2010, Chisora defended his British title against Sam Sexton in a rematch. He also fought for the Commonwealth title. Chisora won by TKO in the ninth round, adding the Commonwealth title to his collection. This was a big step in his career.

Chisora was then set to fight Wladimir Klitschko, a world champion. However, Klitschko had to pull out of the fight twice due to injuries. This meant the big world title fight was cancelled.

First Loss to Tyson Fury

On 23 July 2011, Chisora defended his British and Commonwealth titles against Tyson Fury. Both boxers were undefeated at the time. Fury won the fight by a unanimous decision, meaning all judges scored the fight for him. This was Chisora's first professional loss.

Challenging for the European Title

In December 2011, Chisora fought Robert Helenius for the WBA and WBO Intercontinental, and vacant European heavyweight titles. Chisora lost in a very close and controversial split decision. Many people thought Chisora should have won the fight.

First World Title Shot: Against Vitali Klitschko

Fighting for the WBC Heavyweight Title

On 18 February 2012, Chisora got his first chance to fight for a world title. He challenged Vitali Klitschko for the WBC heavyweight title in Germany. Before the fight, Chisora caused a stir by slapping Klitschko during the weigh-in. He also spat water at Wladimir Klitschko (Vitali's brother) in the ring.

In the fight, Klitschko used his height and reach to control the match. Chisora showed great courage and a strong chin, pushing Klitschko at times. However, Klitschko won by a unanimous decision. Chisora earned respect for taking Klitschko the full 12 rounds, something only a few boxers had done.

Aftermath and Fight with David Haye

After the Klitschko fight, Chisora was involved in a brawl with David Haye at a press conference. This led to a lot of controversy. As a result, Chisora had his British boxing license taken away for a while.

However, on 14 July 2012, Haye and Chisora fought each other in a highly anticipated match. The fight was held at the Boleyn Ground Stadium in London. Haye won by TKO in the fifth round. This was the first time Chisora had been knocked down in his career.

Return to the Ring and European Champion Again

In March 2013, Chisora got his British boxing license back. He returned to the ring on 20 April 2013, winning by TKO. He then won the vacant WBO International heavyweight title in July 2013.

Winning the European Title Again

On 21 September 2013, Chisora fought Edmund Gerber for the vacant European heavyweight title. Chisora dominated the fight and won by TKO in the fifth round. He defended this title successfully later that year.

Rematch with Tyson Fury

Chisora and Tyson Fury had a rematch on 29 November 2014. This fight was important because the winner would get a chance to fight for the WBO heavyweight world title. Fury once again outboxed Chisora, and Chisora's corner stopped the fight at the end of the tenth round. Chisora lost his European and WBO International titles.

Later Career and Big Fights

Chisora vs. Kubrat Pulev

After a series of wins, Chisora fought Kubrat Pulev on 7 May 2016 for the vacant European heavyweight title. Pulev won by a split decision in a close fight.

Exciting Fight with Dillian Whyte

On 10 December 2016, Chisora had an exciting fight against Dillian Whyte. There was a lot of tension between the two boxers before the fight. Chisora lost by a split decision in a very close and thrilling match. Many fans wanted to see a rematch.

Joining Matchroom and More Fights

In 2017, Chisora signed with Matchroom Sport, a new promoter. He continued to fight, winning some and losing some. He challenged for the European heavyweight title again in November 2017 but lost by a majority decision.

Big Win Against Carlos Takam

On 28 July 2018, Chisora fought Carlos Takam. Takam was ahead on the scorecards, but Chisora landed a huge right hand in the eighth round, knocking Takam down twice. The referee stopped the fight, giving Chisora a big TKO win. This put him back in the mix for important heavyweight fights.

Rematch with Dillian Whyte

On 22 December 2018, Chisora had his highly anticipated rematch with Dillian Whyte. This time, Chisora had his former rival David Haye as his new manager. Chisora fought bravely, but Whyte won by knockout in the eleventh round.

New Trainers and Continued Challenges

In 2019, Chisora changed trainers, working with Dave Coldwell and later Steve Broughton. He continued to take on tough opponents.

Chisora vs. David Price

On 26 October 2019, Chisora fought fellow British heavyweight David Price. Chisora won by TKO in the fourth round. He put a lot of pressure on Price, leading to the stoppage.

Challenging Oleksandr Usyk

On 31 October 2020, Chisora faced Oleksandr Usyk, a highly skilled former world champion. This was a big test for Usyk in the heavyweight division. Chisora started fast, putting pressure on Usyk. However, Usyk used his great movement and skill to win by a unanimous decision after 12 rounds.

Fights with Joseph Parker

Chisora fought Joseph Parker twice. The first fight was on 1 May 2021. Chisora knocked Parker down in the first round, but Parker recovered and won by a split decision. They had a rematch on 18 December 2021. Parker dominated the second fight, knocking Chisora down multiple times, and won by a unanimous decision.

Rematch with Kubrat Pulev

On 9 July 2022, Chisora had a rematch with Kubrat Pulev. This was a thrilling and tough fight. Chisora won by a split decision, showing his determination and heart. After the fight, Chisora said he wanted to fight Deontay Wilder, another top heavyweight.

Third World Title Shot: Against Tyson Fury

Chisora vs. Fury III

On 3 December 2022, Chisora fought Tyson Fury for the third time, this time for Fury's WBC heavyweight title. The fight took place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Chisora showed great courage but was outclassed by Fury. The referee stopped the fight in the tenth round, giving Fury the win.

Recent Fights

On 12 August 2023, Chisora fought Gerald Washington and won by a unanimous decision. He then faced Joe Joyce on 27 July 2024, winning by unanimous decision after a tough back-and-forth fight. Chisora has said he wants to reach 50 professional fights before he retires. His next fight, his 49th, is against Otto Wallin in February 2025.

Personal Life

Chisora is married and has two children. He is fluent in both English and Shona, his first language. He is a Christian and a fan of Manchester United F.C.. In 2019, he supported the Brexit Party in the European Parliament elections.

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
48 fights 35 wins 13 losses
By knockout 23 4
By decision 12 9
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
48 Win 35–13 Joe Joyce UD 10 27 Jul 2024 The O2 Arena, London, England
47 Win 34–13 Gerald Washington UD 10 12 Aug 2023 The O2 Arena, London, England
46 Loss 33–13 Tyson Fury TKO 10 (12), 2:51 3 Dec 2022 Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England For WBC heavyweight title
45 Win 33–12 Kubrat Pulev SD 12 9 Jul 2022 The O2 Arena, London, England Won vacant WBA International heavyweight title
44 Loss 32–12 Joseph Parker UD 12 18 Dec 2021 AO Arena, Manchester, England For WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight title
43 Loss 32–11 Joseph Parker SD 12 1 May 2021 AO Arena, Manchester, England For vacant WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight title
42 Loss 32–10 Oleksandr Usyk UD 12 31 Oct 2020 The SSE Arena, London, England Lost WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight title
41 Win 32–9 David Price TKO 4 (12), 2:00 26 Oct 2019 The O2 Arena, London, England Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight title
40 Win 31–9 Artur Szpilka KO 2 (10), 1:01 20 Jul 2019 The O2 Arena, London, England
39 Win 30–9 Senad Gashi UD 10 20 Apr 2019 The O2 Arena, London, England
38 Loss 29–9 Dillian Whyte KO 11 (12), 1:56 22 Dec 2018 The O2 Arena, London, England For WBC Silver and WBO International heavyweight titles
37 Win 29–8 Carlos Takam TKO 8 (12), 1:01 28 Jul 2018 The O2 Arena, London, England Won vacant WBA International heavyweight title
36 Win 28–8 Zakaria Azzouzi TKO 2 (8), 2:12 24 Mar 2018 The O2 Arena, London, England
35 Loss 27–8 Agit Kabayel MD 12 4 Nov 2017 Casino de Salle Medcin, Monte Carlo, Monaco For European heavyweight title
34 Win 27–7 Robert Filipovic TKO 5 (6), 1:20 30 Sep 2017 Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
33 Loss 26–7 Dillian Whyte SD 12 10 Dec 2016 Manchester Arena, Manchester, England For WBC International heavyweight title
32 Win 26–6 Drazan Janjanin KO 2 (8), 1:09 10 Sep 2016 Hovet, Stockholm, Sweden
31 Loss 25–6 Kubrat Pulev SD 12 7 May 2016 Barclaycard Arena, Hamburg, Germany For vacant European heavyweight title
30 Win 25–5 Andras Csomor TKO 2 (8), 2:08 9 Jan 2016 Baden-Arena, Offenburg, Germany
29 Win 24–5 Jakov Gospic TKO 3 (8), 2:23 12 Dec 2015 The O2 Arena, London, England
28 Win 23–5 Peter Erdos TKO 5 (8), 1:01 5 Dec 2015 Inselparkhalle, Hamburg, Germany
27 Win 22–5 Marcelo Luiz Nascimento PTS 10 26 Sep 2015 The SSE Arena, London, England
26 Win 21–5 Beka Lobjanidze KO 1 (10), 0:29 24 Jul 2015 The SSE Arena, London, England
25 Loss 20–5 Tyson Fury RTD 10 (12), 3:00 29 Nov 2014 ExCeL, London, England Lost European and WBO International heavyweight titles;
For vacant British heavyweight title
24 Win 20–4 Kevin Johnson UD 12 15 Feb 2014 Copper Box Arena, London, England Retained WBA and WBO International heavyweight titles
23 Win 19–4 Ondřej Pála TKO 3 (12), 2:25 30 Nov 2013 Copper Box Arena, London, England Retained WBO International heavyweight title;
Won vacant WBA International heavyweight title
22 Win 18–4 Edmund Gerber TKO 5 (12), 2:50 21 Sep 2013 Copper Box Arena, London, England Won vacant European heavyweight title
21 Win 17–4 Malik Scott TKO 6 (10), 2:56 20 Jul 2013 Wembley Arena, London, England Won vacant WBO International heavyweight title
20 Win 16–4 Hector Alfredo Avila TKO 9 (10), 2:49 20 Apr 2013 Wembley Arena, London, England
19 Loss 15–4 David Haye TKO 5 (10), 2:59 14 Jul 2012 Boleyn Ground, London, England For vacant WBA Inter-Continental and WBO International heavyweight titles
18 Loss 15–3 Vitali Klitschko UD 12 18 Feb 2012 Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany For WBC heavyweight title
17 Loss 15–2 Robert Helenius SD 12 3 Dec 2011 Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland For WBA Inter-Continental, WBO Inter-Continental, and vacant European heavyweight titles
16 Win 15–1 Remigijus Ziausys PTS 6 11 Nov 2011 North Bridge Leisure Centre, Halifax, England
15 Loss 14–1 Tyson Fury UD 12 23 Jul 2011 Wembley Arena, London, England Lost British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles
14 Win 14–0 Sam Sexton TKO 9 (12), 2:53 18 Sep 2010 LG Arena, Birmingham, England Retained British heavyweight title;
Won Commonwealth heavyweight title
13 Win 13–0 Danny Williams TKO 2 (12), 1:41 15 May 2010 Boleyn Ground, London, England Won British heavyweight title
12 Win 12–0 Carl Baker TKO 2 (10), 2:13 13 Feb 2010 Wembley Arena, London, England
11 Win 11–0 Zurab Noniashvili TKO 3 (8), 2:20 9 Oct 2009 York Hall, London, England
10 Win 10–0 Paul Butlin PTS 8 22 May 2009 York Hall, London, England
9 Win 9–0 Daniil Peretyatko PTS 8 30 Jan 2009 York Hall, London, England
8 Win 8–0 Neil Simpson RTD 2 (8), 3:00 6 Dec 2008 ExCeL, London, England
7 Win 7–0 Lee Swaby TKO 3 (8), 2:45 26 Sep 2008 York Hall, London, England
6 Win 6–0 Shawn McLean TKO 6 (8), 3:00 12 Sep 2008 Grosvenor House, London, England
5 Win 5–0 Sam Sexton TKO 6 (6), 2:34 14 Jun 2008 York Hall, London, England
4 Win 4–0 Paul Butlin PTS 4 12 Jan 2008 York Hall, London, England
3 Win 3–0 Darren Morgan PTS 4 13 Oct 2007 York Hall, London, England
2 Win 2–0 Tony Booth PTS 4 7 Apr 2007 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
1 Win 1–0 István Kecskés TKO 2 (4), 1:21 17 Feb 2007 Wembley Arena, London, England

Viewership

International TV Audiences

Date Fight Network Country Viewers Source(s)
23 July 2011 Derek Chisora vs. Tyson Fury Channel 5 United Kingdom 2,900,000
3 December 2011 Robert Helenius vs. Derek Chisora Das Erste Germany 3,160,000
18 February 2012 Vitali Klitschko vs. Derek Chisora RTL Germany 12,880,000
Inter Ukraine 20,200,000
Polsat Poland 3,309,000
Polsat Sport Poland 525,000
Polsat Sport Extra Poland 208,000
7 May 2016 Kubrat Pulev vs. Derek Chisora Sat.1 Germany 1,930,000
Total viewership 45,112,000

Pay-Per-View Fights

No. Date Fight Country Network Buys Source(s)
1 22 December 2018 Dillian Whyte vs. Derek Chisora II
United Kingdom, Ireland
Sky Box Office 532,000
2 31 October 2020 Oleksandr Usyk vs. Derek Chisora
United Kingdom, Ireland
Sky Box Office 1,059,000
Ukraine
MEGOGO 100,000
3 1 May 2021 Derek Chisora vs. Joseph Parker
United Kingdom, Ireland
Sky Box Office 145,000
4 3 December 2022 Tyson Fury vs. Derek Chisora III
United Kingdom, Ireland
BT Sport Box Office 500,000
Total sales 2,336,000

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2018 Pitbull: Last Dog Boxer 2

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Derek Chisora para niños

  • List of European Boxing Union heavyweight champions
  • List of Commonwealth Boxing Council champions
  • List of British heavyweight boxing champions
  • List of ABA super-heavyweight champions
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