Two heavyweights, both past their primes but still dangerous, face off Saturday at the O2 Arena in London, UK. Derek ‘War’ Chisora (36-13, 23 KOs) takes on former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round fight live on DAZN PPV.
This fight isn’t for a world title, but the matchup is what most intrigues fans. For the winner, a potential fight with Anthony Joshua or Oleksandr Usyk later in the year is on the horizon. For the loser, it could mean retirement or a move to the exhibition circuit. With so much at stake and two fighters known to leave everything in the ring, this heavyweight battle will satisfy boxing fans tuning in. Who will come out on top?
Can Derek Chisora Afford For This Fight To Be A ‘War’?
At 42, Chisora has literally seen it all as he’s shared the ring with the likes of Tyson Fury, Joe Joyce, Oleksandr Usyk, Joseph Parker, Vitali Klitschko, and more throughout his 19-year career. There isn’t much Chisora hasn’t seen, but this fight with Wilder is a little different because his opponent carries one-punch knockout power, and after battling all of the names mentioned and more, it doesn’t seem like Chisora can go to ‘war’ anymore, nor should he. It’s just not the smart approach for this fight, and if he wants to avoid looking up at the lights, Chisora needs to have a calculated approach.
What does that look like? Chisora needs to keep Wilder on the back foot. Wilder’s past issues in fights have been moving backwards, as he tends to keep his hands down when doing so. This is where Chisora can catch him with a clean shot, making Wilder gun-shy for the rest of the fight. If Chisora can do that while also smothering Wilder in spots, he could win a decision or even a stoppage on Saturday night.
Deontay Wilder’s Last Shot?
The 40-year-old Wilder from Tuscaloosa, AL, has been a pro for 18 years. Despite all the big fights he’s had, the chance to fight anyone from the UK not named Tyson Fury never came up. Now that Wilder is past his prime, he’s being approached about fighting in the UK, leading to this battle with Chisora. Since 2020, Wilder has only fought five times, which isn’t ideal for any fighter. In those five fights, Wilder is 2-3, raising questions about whether he will fight again.
After some legal issues involving domestic violence with his ex and the related court cases, Wilder returned in June of last year to score a seventh-round TKO over Tyrell Herndon. Although it was after a long layoff, what fans saw was a shell of the man who was once the most feared heavyweight champion of his era.
With this fight against Chisora, it might be his last chance to get a shot at the heavyweight title. How does Wilder beat Chisora? He just needs to keep that long left jab out and follow it with the right hand often and early in the fight. Once Chisora begins to gas out, that’s when Wilder needs to throw the left hook followed by the straight right hand to hurt Chisora and then another right hand to knock him out. Wilder doesn’t throw enough punches to secure a decision, so a knockout will have to be what he aims for from the start of the fight.
Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder Prediction
Although Wilder hasn’t been the fighter he was in previous years, he still possesses that right hand. When Chisora slows significantly around the sixth or seventh round, that’s when Wilder is likely to unleash it. I don’t believe Chisora will get up from it, and Wilder will once again add a KO to his record, fueling anticipation for a fight with Anthony Joshua or Oleksandr Usyk.
Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder Betting Odds
Per BETUS, Derek Chisora is the favorite at -190, and Deontay Wilder is the underdog at +160.
Derek Chisora: TKO/KO +140; Decision +300
Draw: +1600
Deontay Wilder: TKO/KO +220; Decision +900
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