Derek Chisora wins the heavyweight duel against Joe Joyce and surprises fans and experts alike.
Spectators at Saturday’s heavyweight fight at the O2 in London will not regret buying their tickets. The duel between the old warhorses Joe Joyce (38) and Derek Chisora (40) was a hot exchange of blows. Both boxing veterans put in an impressive performance.
The fight, scheduled for ten rounds, did not harbor any major title ambitions. Rather, it was a test of strength between two experienced heavyweights. The presumed underdog Derek Chisora (35-13, 23 knockouts) surprisingly prevailed against the favorite Joe Joyce (16-3, 15 knockouts). The judges scored the fight 97-92, 96-94 and 96-94 in Chisora’s favor. “Joe is a good fighter, but I knew I could beat him,” said Chisora afterwards.
Precipitation makes the difference
A week before the fight, Chisora had attracted attention by headbutting a courier driver. Joyce, who was trying to restore his lost reputation after two defeats to Zhilei Zhang in 2023, had been tipped in advance as the younger and supposedly stronger of the two heavyweights. The juggernaut wanted to live up to this role and got straight into it from the start. Joyce repeatedly put Chisora under pressure. But Chisora, known for his tenacity and his taker qualities, kept countering with precise punches. This precision paid off in the ninth round when he caught Joyce cold and sent him to the floor. Joyce recovered quickly, but Chisora’s strike remained decisive.
Joyce more active – Chisora more efficient
Although Joyce landed more shots – 887 in total, 332 of which hit their target – Chisora’s precision was the key to victory. Chisora landed 301 of 610 punches, showing greater efficiency. “I had to dig deep,” Chisora commented on his performance. “I still have two matches to go, the next one in Manchester in December.”
Prospects in the heavyweight segment
While Chisora wants to continue his career with another triumph, Joe Joyce’s future is uncertain. Despite his defeat, the 38-year-old paid tribute to his two-year-older opponent for his performance: “He gave a brilliant performance. I’m glad to have shared the ring with him. I don’t know yet whether I’ll continue.”
Text: Andreas Ohlberger