Bronze Bomber Deontay Wilder Split Decisions Del Boy Chisora in Toe-to-Toe Thriller
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
London, UK (April 5th, 2026)– James Bond 007, in His Majesty’s Secret Service, said Never Say Never Again. Derek Chisora, known as ‘War’ and ‘Del Boy’, in what he claims is his final bout ever, went to war with former World heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. The two aging warriors, Chisora, age 42, and Wilder, age 40, in top condition but fighting for their lives in a life and death struggle, went 12 rounds in what is an odd candidate for Fight of the Year in 2026.
In the main event of a nine-bout card at 02 Arena in Greenwich, United Kingdom, on Saturday night, April 4, 2026, Deontay Wilder received a hometown unpopular 12 rounds split decision over Derek Chisora, which set up the possibility of a subsequent bout with former World Heavyweight champion Anthony ‘A.J.’ Joshua, who was at ringside. Chisora won 115-112 on one judge’s scorecard, overruled by 115-111 and 115-113 for Wilder. If one round for Wilder had swung the other way, or the knockdown of Wilder was not ruled a slip, the bout would have been a draw, with the scorecards going three different ways.
By Chisora’s own admission, the decision was lost in round eight, which oddly went 9-8 for Wilder. Previously, Chisora wrestled himself and Wilder to the canvas. In the eighth round, Wilder apparently pushed Chisora to the canvas, followed by a small punch of sorts, ruled a knockdown. Wilder later lost a point in round eight for pushing. In round 11, both Wilder and Chisora got counted for going down to the canvas. Wilder’s knockdown was, however, ruled a slip.
Wilder, 45-4-1 with 43 knockouts, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Chisora, 36-14 with 23 knockouts, Finchley, London, United Kingdom, were telegraphing their punches in what was the 50th pro fight for both combatants. Wilder pawed with a left jab and swung wildly with his right hand. Chisora, with 74 inches of reach to Wilder’s 83 inches of reach, and at 6’2″ to Wilder’s 6’7″, weighed 266 ¼ to Wilder’s 226 ½ pounds. This meant Rocky Marciano style, that Chisora had to barrel his way in like a sausage trying to get inside, while Wilder had to attempt to use superior maneuverability to achieve punch swing range. Wilder had to neutralize Chisora’s attempts to use his weight to bully Wilder around. This led to frequent holding. So was the spirit of the bout for all 12 rounds of hold and swing away. The bout was a wild, spirited mess of two spent warriors giving an entertaining go.
Wilder, unable to demonstrate the power that allowed him to knock out 43 opponents in 44 wins coming into this bout, joined Chisora in 12 rounds of mutual headhunting.
At the end of round one, both fighters got tangled on the ropes, and referee Mark Bates could not unravel it. A member of Chisora’s team cut across the ring to attempt a separation. If a member of Wilder’s team had done this, Wilder would have been disqualified. Much like the knee on the canvas and the towel break for Tank Davis in his bout with Lamont Roach on March 1, 2025, where referee Steve Willis allowed hair gel grease to be wiped from the eyes of Davis, the Chisora corner got away with something with no points penalty or DQ.
Rules are rules. The point here is that popular and famous fighters and their corners sometimes cop a break and get away with clear rules violations when points and/or a disqualification are mandatory.
As the bout wore on with both fighters throwing wild right hands, Chisora, it should be noted, showed signs of a buckled temple, and severe bruising and swelling around his eyes, face, and head. Wilder, concerned, claimed after the bout he held back, fearing for the life of Chisora. At that moment, the human side of Deontay Wilder emerged, and the decision to fight the bout and look for a decision, regardless of its outcome, proved that Wilder, in twilight, had acquired a sense of brevity and humanity not present at any previous point in his career.
Wilder talked about his seven children after the bout. “I was telling him (Derek Chisora) in the ring, as I started seeing his eyes and temple swell, bro you’ve gotta live for your kids. I don’t want to hurt you so much (any) longer. I started having fun in there because, as) I saw my brother (Chisora) getting hurt, I saw him winking his eyes (in agreement with me) a little bit. That’s what boxing’s all about. When it’s all over, nobody gives a f#*k about us. So, us fighters have to look out for each other. Tonight, I looked out for Derek. I didn’t want to go too hard on him. I want him to live for his kids.” This critical understanding by Wilder came against a unique opponent who took his best shots, but who stubbornly would not fall. Wilder looking to win by 12 rounds decision at any point in his career remains rare.
This bout was a wild, entertaining slugfest between two heavyweight boxers clearly past their prime. However, given Chisora’s popularity, a comeback bye-bye bout remains a possibility, and Chisora’s record remains active on BoxRec as a result. Never Say Never Again. Who knows. Chisora would not be fighting Moses Itauma or Fabio Wardley. Perhaps some final opponent for a final win will be found. ‘Del Boy’ remains as he always was, a big draw for British boxing fans. Real Combat Media scored the bout 115-113 for Deontay Wilder and regards the scoring and refereeing in the United Kingdom for this high-profile bout as surprisingly neutral and very fair.
02 Arena Greenwich Undercard Results
Viddal Riley Won by Unanimous Decision in 12 Rounds over Mateus Masternak and won the EBU European Cruiserweight title. International Boxing Federation elimination bout. Scoring of 118-110, 118-110, and 119-109 appeared neutral and fair. Real Combat Media scored the bout 118-110 for Riley, giving Masternak the 12th round on the scorecards. Televised preliminary bout to the main event. Masternak also holds the Polish Cruiserweight title.
Denzel Bentley Won by seventh-round stoppage over Endry Saavedra and won the interim World Boxing Organisation World Middleweight title. Former world title challenger Bentley had been inactive for 16 months before this bout. Time: 1:38 of the seventh round.
Ashton Sylve won by eight rounds decision over Raul Hernandez, Super Lightweights
Amir Anderson stopped Jordan Dujon in the eighth round, Middleweights
Matty Harris knocked out Franklin Ignatius in the second round, Heavyweights.
Jermaine Dhliwayo stopped Jake Morgan in the seventh round, Super Featherweights
Dan Toward stopped Misael Da Veiga in the third round, Super Welterweights
Tom Welland outpointed Yahir Morales in four rounds, Featherweights
Opening bout on the card. A mismatch. Welland, 9-1, was an easy winner as trial horse 6-23-5 Morales, Guadalajara, Mexico, has lost 15 consecutive decisions, and has never been stopped.
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