Veteran Chisora outpoints Joyce in London slugfest

Derek Chisora (right) inflicted a third career defeat on Joe Joyce

Veteran Derek Chisora outpointed Joe Joyce in a competitive and entertaining slugfest between two British heavyweights at London's O2 Arena.

In a back-and-forth contest in which both men landed huge, telling blows, Chisora, 40, dropped Joyce, 38, in the ninth round.

At times it was uncomfortable viewing, two boxers past their peak taking unnecessary damage.

Chisora was awarded a unanimous decision with scores of 96-94, 96-94 and 97-92.

"I haven't boxed for a year, but I had to dig deep," he told TNT Sports.

"I was fit, but Joe is a good fighter. I knew I was going to drop him at one stage".

In what he says was a 10th and final fight at the O2 Arena, Chisora won his 35th pro bout, with 13 losses, in a career spanning 17 years.

Joyce was once was once considered the dangerman of the division but a third career defeat in his last four fights leaves the 'Juggernaut's' career hanging by a thread.

Earlier in the night, Dennis McCann, 23, captured the European super-bantamweight title with a points win over Ionut Baluta on the undercard, while super-featherweight Ryan Garner retained his WBC International title with a win over Archie Sharp.

Unbeaten heavyweight Moses Itauma, 19, knocked out 44-year-old Mariusz Wach in round two while Aadam Hamed - son of Prince Naseem Hamed - won his second pro fight by outpointing journeyman Georgi Velichkov.

A punishing brawl as Usyk watches on

Ukrainian undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk - who beat Joyce as an amateur and Chisora as a professional in 2020 - watched from ringside

The arena was not at full capacity with the O2's top tier closed off, yet there was a tremendous roar when fans spotted surprise guest Oleksandr Usyk on the big screen.

Boxing's reigning - and first ever - four-belt heavyweight world champion pumped his chest in the direction of the crowd before he sat at ringside, with Chisora's friend and new MP Nigel Farage seated in the row behind.

There was an even bigger reception when fan favourite Chisora made his entrance, the Zimbabwe-born Londoner allowing himself a moment to take in the cheers.

Both men took the centre of the ring at the opening bell and showed complete disregard for defence, swinging wildly.

Chisora reddened Joyce's cheek in round one before Joyce returned with a hook which buckled Chisora's legs, and the contest quickly turned into a punishing brawl.

Chisora landed a telling overhand right and stunned Joyce in the fourth to draw gasps from the crowd.

But the 'Juggernaut' walked through his opponent's best shots in the seventh and hurt Chisora with a huge left hook in the eighth.

With Joyce on top, Chisora did not wilt under the pressure. Against the run of the play, he sent Joyce crashing to the canvas with a straight left in the penultimate round.

A tired Chisora spent the final round circling around the ring before ending the contest on top.

Defeat leaves Joyce's career in jepoardy

Joyce has now lose three of his last four bouts

Chisora has faced repeated calls to retire over the years but once again prolonged his career in a must-win bout, the first time he has won back-to-back fights in almost five years.

The majority of his defeats have come at the highest level and by former world champions, including Vitali Klitschko, David Haye, Usyk and a trilogy of fights with Tyson Fury.

"It's not my last fight - I've got two more. It's my last fight in the O2 Arena. I'll go to Manchester in December," Chisora said.

Joyce's swift fall from grace, meanwhile, illustrates the precarious nature of heavyweight boxing.

The 2016 Olympic silver medallist's world title ambitions were derailed in back-to-back stoppage losses to Zhilei Zhang in 2023, and he appeared a fighter still reeling from those devastating defeats.

Age is not on Joyce's side and while he may take some time to consider his next move, he slides further down the heavyweight pecking order.