Derek Chisora vs Kubrat Pulev LIVE: Fight stream, latest updates plus result and reaction

Re-live updates from the main event and undercard at the O2 Arena in London

(Getty Images)

Derek Chisora halted his run of three straight defeats to beat Kubrat Pulev by a split decision and silence his doubters at the O2 Arena in London.

Two veterans of the sport did battle for a second time, having fought in Hamburg back in 2016, amid talk of what they had left to achieve in boxing. Pulev had won the first meeting by a split decision but was second best for much of the 12 rounds, with Chisora connecting a number of times with his right to make his 45th professional fight one to remember back in the capital.

It earned the 38-year-old heavyweight success after the judges scored the bout many predicted would send him into retirement 112-116, 116-112 and 116-114. The combined age of the duo was 79 but Chisora had faced Oleksandr Usyk in 2020 while Pulev was knocked out by Anthony Joshua at the end of the same year to show their desire to still go toe-to-toe with the best in the business. It was a welcome return to London for “Del Boy’ after bouts with Joseph Parker in Manchester and the former Finchley amateur boasted a strong record of six wins from seven at the O2 Arena. PA

Re-live updates from the main event and undercard, below.

Derek Chisora vs Kubrat Pulev 2

• Heavyweights clashed in main-event rematch at London’s O2 Arena
• Bulgarian Pulev beat Briton Chisora via split decision in 2016
• Chisora, 38, entered second bout on the back of three straight losses
• Chisora triumphs 112-116, 116-112, 116-114 in rematch

[9 July 2022 18:48 · Alex Pattle]

Chisora vs Pulev 2

The main card is expected to begin at 7pm BST – when our live coverage will begin – with the main-event ring walks likely to start at 10pm.

The fights will air exclusively on streaming platform DAZN, a subscription to which is available here at a cost of £7.99 per month.

[9 July 2022 18:29 · Alex Pattle]

Chisora vs Pulev 2

Here is the full card for tonight’s event:

Derek Chisora vs Kubrat Pulev (heavyweight)

Israil Madrimov vs Michel Soro (super-welterweight)

Fabio Wardley vs Chris Healey (heavyweight)

Caoimhin Agyarko vs Lukasz Maciec (super-welterweight)

Ramla Ali vs Agustina Maris Belen Rojas (women’s featherweight)

Solomon Dacres vs Kevin Nicolas Espindola (heavyweight)

Yousuf Ibrahim vs Francisco Rodriguez (super-bantamweight)

[9 July 2022 18:10 · Alex Pattle]

Chisora vs Pulev 2

The prospect of interviewing Derek Chisora presents a similar conundrum to the prospect of fighting him, though admittedly with significantly lower stakes. Because, whether preparing to trade punches or trade words with the heavyweight, there is the distinct possibility of being dragged into a brawl with the Briton.

Chisora has seen it all in the ring and heard it all outside of it, but treading the line between leaving the veteran disengaged and engaging him too directly is more of a dilemma for those combating the 38-year-old with questions instead of with uppercuts. In contrast, there is little chance of Chisora’s in-ring opponents encountering a disinterested “Del Boy”; Chisora, who now prefers the nickname “War”, lives to box and possesses the purest proclivity for pugilism.

Still, the feeling-out process when speaking to Chisora mirrors the early rounds of a bout, with jabs seeming to represent the wisest form of entry. So, before approaching the obvious topic of whether Saturday’s rematch with Kubrat Pulev will – maybe should – mark the end of Chisora’s long, captivating career, we start at the beginning.

Read our exclusive interview with Derek Chisora here:

[9 July 2022 17:53 · Alex Pattle]

Chisora vs Pulev 2

Derek Chisora will step out in front of a home crowd this evening as he takes on Kubrat Pulev at the O2 Arena in London.

The main-event contest is a rematch of the pair’s 2016 clash, which Pulev won via split decision in Hamburg. Few believe that tonight’s encounter will to go the judges’ scorecards, however, with the aging heavyweights expected to slug it out in a must-win meeting for both men. Briton Chisora has shown resilience in recent defeats, though, entering the O2 Arena on the back of three straight decision losses. Pulev also went the distance last time out, outpointing Jerry Forrest in May to respond well to a 2020 knockout defeat by Anthony Joshua.

The Bulgarian has expressed a desire to fight for a world title one last time, with the clock ticking for the 41-year-old. Meanwhile, Chisora has denied suggestions that he himself should retire if he is to be beaten here. The 38-year-old told The Independent this week: “Na, na. Nope. Don’t wanna think about that. Sad stories. Na. Thinking about it... If my wife leaves me today, what am I gonna do? Am I gonna find another one? For now, no.”