Derek Chisora holds court after dominating Otto Wallin at Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England. (Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough)
Derek Chisora rolled back the years to put on a brilliant performance Saturday afternoon across the pond in the penultimate bout of his professional boxing career.
The veteran British heavyweight dropped Otto Wallin twice en route to a comfortable unanimous decision win at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England. The scores read 117-109, 116-110 and 114-112, all in favor of Chisora, who was the betting underdog heading into the contest.
Chisora (36-13, 23 KOs) took control of the fight from the opening bell, pouring the pressure onto Wallin (27-3, 15 KOs) and backing him up with ease. When Chisora got up close, he let both hands go against a reluctant Wallin, who was happy to just cover up without responding with his own punches.
Chisora built up a strong lead through five rounds with effective pressure. He whipped the right hand over the top, threw flurries and occasionally switched to southpaw. All the tactics he employed for many years were on full display.
Wallin began to have success in the sixth as he took center ring and worked his southpaw jab on Chisora's face. But that success was short-lived, as Chisora went on to win the seventh and eighth rounds through work rate and power shots. Chisora knocked Wallin down in the ninth round with an overhand right that sent him stumbling to the other side of the ring. The 41-year-old heavyweight looked for the finish, but Wallin managed to ride out the storm.
Wallin had a good spell in the 10th and 11th rounds as Chisora started to tire. Even so, the Swedish southpaw didn't capitalize on Chisora's fatigue as well as he could've.
Chisora came out in the final round looking for the finish, even though he didn't need it, and he almost found it. With 10 seconds to go in the contest, Chisora put Wallin down with a barrage of punches to seal his victory.
Chisora still has plenty left in the tank! ⛽️ #ChisoraWallin
All throughout the fight, the question that continued to pop up was: How much did Wallin want to win? He never seemed truly determined to beat Chisora. Wallin was more than happy to cover up on the ropes rather than launching his own attacks. Chisora did what he always does and Wallin still couldn't find an answer to it. It was a poor performance from the man who once gave Tyson Fury hell for 12 rounds.
In his post-fight interview, Chisora called out three big names in the division for his 50th and final fight: Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois. Chisora asked the crowd to decide who they wanted to see him against next. The fans in the arena were receptive to fights with the unified heavyweight champion Usyk or Joshua for Chisora, but weren't as keen on the IBF heavyweight titleholder Dubois.
Catch complete Chisora vs. Wallin results and Uncrowned's play-by-play of the main card below.
Main Card
Heavyweight: Derek Chisora def. Otto Wallin via unanimous decision (117-109, 114-112, 116-110)
Middleweight: Nathan Heaney def. Sofiane Khati via seventh-round TKO | Watch video
Super lightweight: Jack Rafferty def. Reece MacMillan via seventh-round TKO | Watch finish
The crowd erupts into cheers as Chisora let's go of an overhand right and follows up with a flurry. Wallin onto the ropes, taking more and more shots. Wallin clearly hasn't come to win tonight, and Chisora is putting on a terrific display. There is no urgency from Wallin in the final twenty seconds, it's Chisora looking for the finish.
DOWN AGAIN IS WALLIN!
10-8 Chisora, 118-108 Chisora
Darshan Desai
Derek Chisora vs. Otto Wallin - Round 11
Overhand left from Chisora lands. It was a similar punch to the one that caused the knockdown, except from the opposite stance.
Chisora takes a breather in the corner. He is very tired in the 11th, but Wallin can't take advantage of it.
10-9 Chisora, 108-100
Darshan Desai
Derek Chisora vs. Otto Wallin - Round 10
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua couldn't drop Otto Wallin. Fury struggled massively with him a few years ago. Wallin dominated the unified cruiserweight champion, Murat Gassiev. But the Swede has looked out of his league against Derek Chisora tonight. He just doesn't seem determined enough to really want to win this fight. Wallin is implored by his corner to make the most of the last two rounds.
DOWN GOES OTTO WALLIN! It was an overhand right that didn't even hit Wallin clean, it clipped him on the temple. If that landed clean, it could've been all over.
Chisora is looking for the finish early in the ninth. Wallin taking some heavy punishment here. Wallin is holding, he looks tired and the fight has just been beaten out of him — if it was there in the first place.
10-8 Chisora, 89-81 Chisora
Darshan Desai
Derek Chisora vs. Otto Wallin - Round 8
Big left from Chisora. Wallin is hurt and on the ropes and Chisora puts together a flurry, he had Wallin hurt there. Wallin covering up but taking a lot of shots on the guard. More heavy punches from Chisora go in as we enter the final minute.
There has been calls for Chisora to retire every year for the last decade, but he is still putting in showings like this 17 years into his career.
10-9 Chisora, 79-73 Chisora
Darshan Desai
Derek Chisora vs. Otto Wallin - Round 7
The referee indicates in between rounds six and seven that the punch was caused by a clash of heads so if it is called off, we will go to the scorecards, and Chisora is surely in front.
Chisora lets his hands go and then looks for a breather, Wallin doesn't jump on him. It's better from Wallin in the seventh but he could still be doing so much more.
BIG SHOTS land for Chisora in the final 10 seconds. Wallin was on the end of a massive left hook there.
10-9 Chisora, 69-64 Chisora
Darshan Desai
Derek Chisora vs. Otto Wallin - Round 6
Wallin is FINALLY letting go of the southpaw right hand jab early in the sixth.
The referee calls for the ringside doctor to inspect Chisora's cut, he lets the action continue.
Chisora knowing he might be on borrowed time, comes out with a sense of urgency, but it has spurred Wallin on as well.
10-9 Wallin, 59-55 Chisora
Darshan Desai
Derek Chisora vs. Otto Wallin - Round 5
Chisora whipping big shots over the top as Wallin seeks refuge on the ropes. Wallin catches Chisora with a short left hand as Chisora attempts to break the distance. His best work, he needs more of that. It's been a poor showing from Wallin, he has dealt with pressure fighters much better than this in previous fights.
10-9 Chisora, 50-45 Chisora
Darshan Desai
Derek Chisora vs. Otto Wallin - Round 4
Chisora has Wallin backed up on the ropes and lets his hands go. A familiar sight through four rounds. Wallin has not really got into this fight yet. Chisora with a couple of right hands up close as Wallin stumbles off balance.
Wallin is not going to have success fighting like this. He has to be able to move around the centre of the ring and keep the contest at long range.
10-9 Chisora, 40-36 chisor
Darshan Desai
Derek Chisora vs. Otto Wallin - Round 3
A pair of right hands from Chisora break the guard in the final minute of the third. Wallin is fighting negative, and not doing anywhere near enough in these rounds. All Chisora through 3, it might not be pretty but it's effective.
10-9 Chisora, 30-27 Chisora
Darshan Desai
Derek Chisora vs. Otto Wallin - Round 2
Wallin pawing out the jab early in the second, he has to be able to counter Chisora as he comes in with the left hand.
But, at this point in the fight, Wallin is just letting Chisora walk onto him, and Chisora is doing exactly that. Wallin with a nice, tight guard. The strategy for Wallin could be to let the 40-year-old punch himself out and take over in the second half.
10-9 Chisora, 20-18 Chisora
Darshan Desai
Derek Chisora vs. Otto Wallin - Round 1
Chisora is looking to make it rough early. It's a small ring, so Chisora will have no issues cutting Wallin off and getting on the inside. Chisora uses the cross guard to avoid being caught with an uppercut. Wallin happy to just cover up and let Chisora expand energy early.
Nothing landing cleanly, but Chisora put a lot of pressure on Wallin in that round.
10-9 Chisora
Darshan Desai
Chisora & Wallin in the ring!
Derek Chisora ring walked to Hotel California.
The who's who of boxing is in attendance tonight to watch British boxing treasure Derek Chisora fight for the final time in the UK. Tyson Fury, Dillian Whyte, and Joe Joyce ringside.
Darshan Desai
Main event next: Derek Chisora vs. Otto Wallin
Derek Chisora (35-13, 23 KOs) and Otto Wallin (27-2, 15 KOs) collide in an IBF world heavyweight title eliminator, with the winner earning the No. 2 position in the IBF heavyweight rankings
Khati HURTS Heaney with a right hand. Khati follows up with a barrage and DOWN GOES HEANEY!
Khati follows up as the referee lets the action continue after the ten count. Heaney forced onto the ropes, Khati jumps on him and THIS ONE IS OVER!
TKO-7 Sofiane Khati
Darshan Desai
Nathan Heaney vs. Sofiane Khati - Round 6
Heaney gets a firm telling off in the corner in between rounds 5 and 6. He is told to keep it simple and he does just that in the 7th. Less action in the round, but it suits Heaney, who managed to get behind his jab and keep Khati at arm's range. Khati attempted to open up but Heaney managed to use his footwork and guard to avoid the shots.
10-9 Heaney, 58-56 Heaney
Darshan Desai
Nathan Heaney vs. Sofiane Khati - Round 5
Khati boxing more confidently in the beginning of the fifth.
A pair of right hands get through for Heaney. But he is on the ropes and ROCKED with a left hook.
Khati has done well in these last two rounds after falling behind early. Heaney has neglected his jab, looks tired, and is cut.
10-9 Khati, 48-47 Heaney
Darshan Desai
Nathan Heaney vs. Sofiane Khati - Round 4
Khati opens the round on the attack as he lets go with a two-punch combination downstairs and then switches to southpaw and misses with another shot.
They trade right hands, both connected but Heaney's was more impactful. Khati lands again and followed it with a left hook. Best round of the fight for Khati as Heaney paws away the blood on his nose.
10-9 Khati, 39-37 Heaney
Darshan Desai
Nathan Heaney vs. Sofiane Khati - Round 2
Right hand from Heaney breaks the guard as he forces Khati onto the ropes.
Right hand-left hook combination skims the guard. Right hand from Heaney and Khati was off balance there, didn't seem to be hurt though.
10-9 Heaney, 20-18 Heaney
Darshan Desai
Nathan Heaney vs. Sofiane Khati - Round 1
Positive start from Heaney who is dominating proceedings behind his educated left hand at range against the slower Khati. Khati will need to be able to get closer to Heaney because he is unlikely to come off in front in a jab battle.
10-9 Heaney
Darshan Desai
Chief support: Nathan Heaney vs. Sofiane Khati
British middleweight Nathan Heaney (18-1-1, 6 KOs) battles Sofiane Khati (17-5, 6 KOs) for the WBA Continental title.
Jack Rafferty STOPS Reece MacMillan in the 7th-round to retain his British and Commonwealth titles
Darshan Desai
Jack Rafferty vs. Reece MacMillan - Round 6
Left hook from Rafferty catches MacMillan coming in. And again, Rafferty is clearly targeting the left hook counter because MacMillan comes in square and is susceptible to the left hook around the guard.
MacMillan is being forced back for the majority of the sixth. Rafferty is starting to put his punches together.
10-9 Rafferty, 59-55 Rafferty
Darshan Desai
Jack Rafferty vs. Reece MacMillan - Round 5
Rafferty seems to have adjusted to MacMillan's adjustment. MacMillan isn't having the same success coming forward in the fifth, finding himself on the end of a stiff jab.
Rafferty does his best work at long range against the shorter MacMillan, he's managed to keep the action at arm's length in this round.
10-9 Rafferty, 49-46 Rafferty
Darshan Desai
Jack Rafferty vs. Reece MacMillan - Round 4
Best round of the fight for Reece MacMillan.
He decides to meet Rafferty head on in the centre of the ring. MacMillan has the quicker hands, he lands and moves his head, making Rafferty miss.
10-9 MacMillan, 39-37 Rafferty
Darshan Desai
Jack Rafferty vs. Reece MacMillan - Round 3
1-2 from Rafferty knocks MacMillan's head back in the first minute of the third. Left hook skims the guard, MacMillan is coming off second best here.
MacMillan starts to look for the right hand counter in the final minute of the third. Rafferty winning the battle of the jabs, pushing the pace, and outworking MacMillan.
10-9 Rafferty, 30-27 Rafferty
Darshan Desai
Jack Rafferty vs. Reece MacMillan - Round 2
Rafferty controling the action at the moment. He is pushing MacMillan back, forcing him onto the ropes. Rafferty is connecting with straight shots upstairs and to the body, MacMillan needs to establish the jab and not let Rafferty dictate proceedings.
10-9 Rafferty, 20-18 Rafferty
Darshan Desai
Jack Rafferty vs. Reece MacMillan - Round 1
Rafferty is noticeably the bigger man in there with MacMillan.
Henry Turner managed to keep Rafferty off pretty comfortably in the first half of their contest, I'm not sure MacMillan will be able to do the same.
10-9 Rafferty
Darshan Desai
Next: Jack Rafferty vs. Reece MacMillan
Jack Rafferty (24-0, 15 KOs) defends his British & Commonwealth super lightweight titles against Reece MacMillan (17-1, 2 KOs).
Darshan Desai
Parker beats Diallo via UD
Zach Parker wins a ten-round unanimous decision (98-92, 98-93, 97-94) over Mickael Diallo in their light heavyweight bout.
Darshan Desai
Zach Parker vs. Mickael Diallo - Round 10
Parker well on his way to a decision win over Diallo.
After hurting Diallo in the eighth, he went back to first gear in the ninth and tenth, probably even giving up the 9th.
It's been a poor performance, and Parker will know that.
10-9 Parker. Final score: 98-92 Parker
Darshan Desai
Zach Parker vs. Mickael Diallo - Round 8
HUGE right hand from Zach Parker rocks Diallo. Diallo is forced onto the ropes and Parker begins to unload. Another right hand gets through.
Both men look exhausted. Diallo seems to have recovered as we approach the end of the eighth.
10-9 Parker, 79-73 Parker
Darshan Desai
Zach Parker vs. Mickael Diallo - Round 7
Parker rips an uppercut downstairs, but then is happy to hold on rather than follow up on the inside.
"Laboured" is the word the commentary are using to describe his performance so far.
Parker and Diallo trade in the final few seconds of the seventh, both got through with right hands.
10-9 Parker, 69-64 Parker
Darshan Desai
Zach Parker vs. Mickael Diallo - Round 6
Parker starting to let his hands go a little more in the sixth, perhaps for the first time in the contest.
Until now, it's been mostly jabs from the orthodox and southpaw stance, but he opened up with the right hand and to the body in the sixth.
10-9 Parker, 59-55 Parker
Darshan Desai
Zach Parker vs. Mickael Diallo - Round 5
Parker cut over the right eye, the corner has done a good job of tidying it up though.
Parker seems affected by the cut during the action, he's pawing at it.
Diallo is making this difficult for Parker, at long-range. Parker seems uncomfortable whenever they are at arms length.
10-9 Diallo, 49-46 Parker
Darshan Desai
Zach Parker vs. Mickael Diallo - Round 3
Parker switches to southpaw, working the jab on the backfoot.
Cut around the right eye of Diallo, unclear how it was caused.
10-9 Parker, 30-27 Parker
Darshan Desai
Zach Parker vs. Mickael Diallo - Round 2
A scrappy affair in the second. Parker holding on the inside, very little getting through from either man. Diallo is starting to settle into this. Doesn't look like it's going to become a Fight of the Year contender though.
10-9 Parker, 20-18 Parker
Darshan Desai
Zach Parker vs. Mickael Diallo - Round 1
Quiet start from both men in this one. Parker looking to establish his jab, nothing of note landing for Diallo.
10-9 Parker
Darshan Desai
Next: Zach Parker vs. Mickael Diallo
Former world title challenger Zach Parker (25-1, 18 KOs) takes on the late-replacement opponent Mickael Diallo (21-1-2, 18 KOs) over ten rounds at light heavyweight
Darshan Desai
Miller beats Abdulah by MD
Zak Miller UPSETS Masood Abdulah by majority decision (114-114, 115-114, 115-113) to win the British and Commonwealth Featherweight titles
Darshan Desai
Masood Abdulah vs. Zak Miller - Round 12
Important to remind you that this fight is taking place on a Queensberry Promotions show, and Queensberry represent Abdulah. So, for all intents and purposes, he is the home fighter, despite Miller being the local attraction.
Abdulah did some good work in the twelfth with his jab and pressure. Miller seems to have just tired late and dropped the last couple of rounds due to work rate.
10-9 Abdulah, 115-113 Miller
Darshan Desai
Masood Abdulah vs. Zak Miller - Round 11
Abdulah connects with a flurry as both let their hands go up close. Abdulah is working really hard in the eleventh, deaparate to close the gap.
Even still, Miller has his moments at long range, but Abdulah might've just outworked him. Nothing eye-catching.
10-9 Abdulah, 106-103 Miller
Darshan Desai
Masood Abdulah vs. Zak Miller - Round 10
Good work from Miller early in the tenth just as Abdulah was building momentum. He has success with the long right hand and left hook, it's all compact and difficult to counter.
Now Miller gets on the front foot, trying to fight Abdulah's fight, pushing him back and punishing him on the inside.
Good comeback round for Miller.
10-9 Miller, 97-93 Miller
Darshan Desai
Masood Abdulah vs. Zak Miller - Round 9
Right hand on the torso area gets through for Abdulah. Good early pressure from him as we've seen in the majority of rounds, can he keep it up though?
Miller seems to be tiring a little and eats a right hand upstairs in range. Miller needs to get back to moving.
10-9 Abdulah, 87-84 Miller
Darshan Desai
Masood Abdulah vs. Zak Miller - Round 8
Right hand from Miller connects on Abdulah just before the halfway point of the eighth.
Abdulah applied the pressure in the first minute but has just slowed a little and Miller is having success at long range.
Abdulah has got to increase the tempo and keep Miller under constant pressure.