Deontay Wilder beats Derek Chisora by split decision following wildly thrilling bout

[p]Not many had predicted [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/boxing/chisora-d-IwUAkOTs/wilder-d-rTtMi1OG/?mid=GGD5BWDM"]the fight[/a] to go all 12 rounds given the hard-hitting reputation of the pair, but both battled admirably to keep matters going up until the final bell.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chisora-derek/IwUAkOTs/"]Chisora[/a] received three counts during the fight and twice ended up outside the ropes, but managed to avoid getting knocked out by the Bronze Bomber's famed power.[/p][p]However, the American still did enough to win the fight in the eyes of two of the judges (115-111, 115-113), with the other scoring it 115 to 112 in favour of the Brit.[/p][embed guid="7e526b59-0652-4a31-b1bd-a10d9fc38e43" url="https://x.com/DAZNBoxing/status/2040563508589297773?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"Derek is a warrior, he's a lion,"[/b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wilder-deontay/rTtMi1OG/"]Wilder[/a] told [b][i]DAZN[/i][/b].[/p][p][b]"I come to fight. A lot of people throw dirt on me, you can't throw dirt on somebody who's chosen. You witnessed what power, glory, and destiny is all about.[/b][/p][p][b]"I want to thank everybody that came out tonight. What a magnificent fight it was, I want to thank Derek.[/b][/p][p][b]"Tonight was very fun, I had a good time in the ring. Derek got a lot of good shots off but it was nothing to a king. It was a lot of fun, I had to heal but I'm back and going to get better every time. What a fun night."[/b][/p][embed guid="b482a2cd-04ca-444e-ac04-9a8238803607" url="https://x.com/DAZNBoxing/status/2040564833767019006?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet" social-type="twitter" /][p]Chisora had maintained in the build-up to the bout that he would retire after 50 fights, and Saturday night's defeat marked his half-century, winning 36 and losing 14. However, the 42-year-old did not go as far as confirming his retirement in the wake of his defeat.[/p][p][b]"Some of the rounds were very close,"[/b] Chisora told [b][i]DAZN[/i][/b]. [b]"I came out the ropes, I don’t know why. If I didn’t come out the ropes, I’d have won that fight."[/b][/p][p]Asked if he has now retired, Chisora said: [b]"I'm going to go home, do a school run. I’m going to say thank you very much. I know why I lost the fight. United Kingdom, I really appreciate you."[/b][/p]