Wilder (45-4-1, 43 KOs) took the decision over 12 rounds at the O2 Arena, with scores of 115-111 and 115-113 in his favor, and 115-112 for Chisora. The fight was billed as a milestone night for both veterans, but it played out as a scrappy, physical contest that never fully settled into control for either.
Chisora (36-14, 23 KOs) did what he always does. He strode forward from the opening bell, crowding Wilder, forcing him to work at a pace he rarely prefers. In the early rounds, Chisora landed to the body and pushed Wilder back, using his weight and pressure to disrupt any clean rhythm. Wilder had moments with the jab and right hand, but he also spent long stretches reacting rather than dictating.
The middle rounds got messy. Wilder had more success when he spaced out and allowed Chisora to come in, landing the cleaner shots of the two, but the fight never got comfortable. There were reports on both sides during the exchanges, and Wilder was awarded a point in the eighth round for pressing during takedowns, adding to the sense that the fight had shifted into chaos rather than control.
Chisora’s work rate and willingness to absorb punishment kept him in each round. He continued to press inside, landing hooks and short punches, making Wilder earn every second of the fight. The London crowd responded to his effort, especially during the later rounds when fatigue set in but the pressure did not.
Wilder’s best moments came when he remained calm behind the jab. His right hand still carried a threat, and in the closing rounds he landed enough clean shots to separate himself in what was a close fight. The final stretch was difficult to score, with both men trading and holding in a fight that leaned more on effort than precision.
The decision reflected that divided view. Two judges sided with Wilder’s cleaner punching, while the third preferred Chisora’s pressure and volume. It wasn’t a dominant win, and it did little to suggest that Wilder is back to the level he once held.
Afterwards, Wilder talked about another run at a world title. The performance suggested he remains dangerous, but also showed the limitations that have occurred in recent fights. Chisora, meanwhile, left the ring to a strong reception after another night built on toughness and pressure, even in defeat.
If you’re a Wilder fan, though, it’s getting harder to ignore his missing right hand power. He talked about suffering a right shoulder injury before his last fight against Anthony Herndon and undergoing surgery for the problem. Jeff ‘Left Hook’ Lacy was never the same after that rotator cuff tear in that shoulder against Vitali Tszyu, and we may see a similar erasure of a signature weapon with Wilder’s right hand.
Against a fighter like “Del Boy,” who is essentially a stationary target for long periods, the old Wilder would have found a home for the right hand within six rounds. Instead, he relied on a paw strike and a clinch. The fact that he won a split decision against a 42-year-old Chisora without ever really hurting him with the straight right says a lot.
Wilder actually admitted after the Zhilei Zhang loss that he was fighting with a broken arm and two shoulder tears that he didn’t quite realize were that bad. While he had surgery and claimed to be 100% for the “return” against Herndon, the biomechanics just don’t seem the same.
