Home Sport Derek Chisora floors and beats Joe Joyce in incredible slugfest as Oleksandr Usyk applauds from ringside

Derek Chisora floors and beats Joe Joyce in incredible slugfest as Oleksandr Usyk applauds from ringside

Sport — 28/07/2024 · 0 Comment

Joe Joyce suffered a devastating blow to his career plans as he was floored and beaten by Derek Chisora on Saturday night.

‘The Juggernaut’ lost a unanimous decision to ‘WAR Chisora’ in a gruelling battle at London’s O2 Arena and will now face calls to retire from boxing.

Chisora floored Joyce in the ninth en route to a unanimous decision winCredit: Getty

The action started off as it meant to go on, with both men meeting in the centre of the ring and letting their hands fly.

Chisora began the better of the two, working Joyce’s body well.

But he was caught by a good left hook towards the end of the opening stanza that buckled his knees.

To his credit, the crafty veteran held on and saw out the round.

In the second, Chisora landed several clubbing right hands, but they bounced off the ‘Juggernaut’s’ chin as he marched forward unfazed.

By the third frame, Joyce was starting to time his opponent as he waded in.

And come the fourth round, Chisora looked tired.

Yet there was still plenty of fight left in the 40-year-old, who bit down on his gumshield and threw together a couple of concussive onslaughts.

At the halfway mark, Chisora was still throwing furiously and appeared to be ahead going into round six.

The pace began to slow through rounds six to eight which favoured Joyce, who was able to start picking his punches more accurately.

Joyce’s world title dreams appear to be in tattersCredit: Getty

Joyce landed with regularity, but Chisora had more meat on his shots.

In the eighth round, Chisora was badly hurt by a big right hand as he sunk against the ropes and then backtracked frantically.

The 40-year-old looked out on his feet in the ninth round while Joyce poured on the pressure but somehow, someway, he landed a thunderous overhand right from the heavens that sent his opponent tumbling to the canvas.

In the final round, Chisora hung on for dear life as Joyce desperately chased the finish.

With thirty seconds to go, Chisora summoned up the strength to go out swinging as the fight went the distance.

When the final bell sounded, the O2 Arena rose to its feet to cheer the brave competitors, including heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk, who gave them both a standing ovation from ringside.

In the end, the judges had it 97-92, 96-94, and 96-94 in Chisora’s favour.

Ahead of fight night, many members of the boxing fraternity insisted that the loser must retire but both men insisted they would box on in their post-fight interviews.

“It’s not my last fight, I’ve still got two more,” said Chisora. “Now I go to Manchester at the end of the year.”

Chisora is still planning more fightsCredit: Getty

Joyce then took to the mic and timed in: “I’m not done yet. I’m still pretty fresh.”

Speaking to talkSPORT after the fight, Chisora said: “My wife’s not well, so my kids didn’t come, so I’m a bit sad.”

When asked what was next, he added:  “Five Guys and Manchester next.”

Renowned promoter Frank Warren admitted he did not see this fight going this way.

He told talkSPORT: “I’ve got to be honest with you, I genuinely did not think that fight would go like this.

“I thought Joe would win the fight and I thought he would stop Derek. But, I mean, what was that all about with a pair of them? I mean, they just did not stop. They did miss each other at times.

“Everything they were throwing they were connecting with and I think it was the last two rounds that did it for Derek.”

When asked what is next for Chisora, he added: “Well, it’s up to him and whatever he wants to do, we’ll sit down and discuss it with him. And with Joe, we’ll see where the both of them go. But they’re fighting men, aren’t they? They’re fighting men.

“People say how do they do it at the age they are. What are they doing it for and whatever? You do it because they’re fighting men, but these are fights that catch up to you as well.”