Derek Chisora took a unanimous decision against Gerald Washington in London
The two heavyweight veterans have been counted out and faced calls to retire, but still managed to land this co-feature at the O2 Arena and live on DAZN.
Washington, 41, entered the ring looking to avoid the sixth loss of his career. A bad night for Chisora, 39, would be his 14th. The familiar notes of Hotel California filled the space as he made his way to the ring.
The start was more tentative than fans have come to expect of Chisora, but he was very much on the front foot.
Washington had his hands low – a recipe for disaster against a man whose trademark is a winging overhand right. He timed Chisora with a couple of straight shots as he bulldozed in though, meaning each man had the other’s kryptonite.
A cut opened above Chisora’s eye in the second – clash of heads – and he was caught with a nice combination to make matters worse. He hit the deck from a push on the bell.
A cut early on for Derek Chisora 🔴#JoshuaHeleniuspic.twitter.com/ooLl5G6HeG
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) August 12, 2023
Washington was timing Chisora well in the third again, but the Brit continued to charge in and had a little success to the body. The ringside physician had a look at the cut before the fourth, but the corner had done well to stop the bleeding in between rounds.
The American – trained by Deontay Wilder’s coach, Malik Scott – looked in control, and his key to success was a well-timed right uppercut. Chisora started the fifth with more success, and it continued throughout with more head movement on the way in. Washington was keen to hold on to see the round out.
Both were tired at the halfway stage, punches landing but with a less pop and spite. It was scrappy and lethargic, but Chisora continued to put the pressure onto a less comfortable Washington.
41-year-old Washington was engaging markedly less in the seventh, but he produced some of his best work of the fight in the final ten seconds – a sustained flurry.
Two BIG men trading leather 🍿#JoshuaHeleniuspic.twitter.com/Wo4Q3d6a32
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) August 12, 2023
The eighth came and went with not much of note from either man. Washington missed opportunities to catch Chisora, and Chisora put his head in the way of too many shots.
The Brit used a rare jab in the ninth and it allowed him to move in in a safer manner. There was very little power in the shots coming from Washington, although he ended the round well again.
Both men showed their age in the tenth and final round, capping off a clash of styles that could’ve perhaps caught fire some time ago.
98-93, 97-94 and 96-94 on the scorecards for Chisora. He pushed the pace throughout and benefitted from Washington slowing down in the middle rounds, but it’s likely going to be disputed, perhaps rightly. Not many will fight it too hard – there’s nothing big waiting for the winner.
As with their last contests, nobody knows what’s next for either man. Fans will be very clear on what they would like to see.