Deontay Wilder vs Derek Chisora: Results and Fight Controversy

Deontay Wilder defeated Derek Chisora via split decision on Saturday, April 4, 2026, in a heavyweight clash held at The O2 Arena in London. The victory came after 12 rounds, with judges scoring the bout 115-111, 112-115, and 115-113 in favor of the American.

The fight served as the main event of a Misfits Pro card and marked a significant milestone for both athletes, representing the 100th combined professional in-ring appearance for the pair. Both Wilder and Chisora entered the ring having completed 50 professional fights each.

Career Stakes and Context

For Derek Chisora, the bout was framed as the final fight of his professional career. The 42-year-old British heavyweight had previously stated that he would retire after reaching 50 fights, regardless of the outcome of the April 4 encounter.

Chisora entered the match during a strong period of his career. He had secured an upset victory over Joe Joyce in July 2024 and subsequently defeated Otto Wallin in February 2025. These results established him as the IBF mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk’s IBF world title.

Deontay Wilder, 40, sought to rebuild his momentum after a period of struggle. The former WBC champion, who held the title from 2015 to 2020 and defended it 10 times before losing to Tyson Fury, had lost four of his previous six fights. His most recent outing prior to this event was a seventh-round TKO victory over Tyrrell Herndon in June 2025.

While Chisora intended to retire, Wilder expressed his intention to continue fighting in an effort to reclaim a world championship.

Pre-Fight Glove Dispute

The lead-up to the event was marked by tension regarding the equipment to be used. Reports emerged on Friday, April 3, 2026, during the official weigh-in, that a dispute had arisen concerning the gloves the fighters would wear.

Kalle Sauerland of MF Pro confirmed the existence of the dispute to iFL TV, noting that there were dramatics at the weigh-in and that issues surrounding gloves have previously occurred in big heavyweight fights and specifically in bouts involving Wilder.

The dispute was resolved prior to the start of the event on Saturday night, allowing the fight to proceed as scheduled.

Event Details and Undercard

The main card was broadcast via DAZN pay-per-view and DAZN Ultimate, with the main event ring walks taking place around 5 p.m. ET. The event featured several other high-stakes matchups on the undercard:

• Viddal Riley defeated Mateusz Masternak in an eliminator for the vacant IBF cruiserweight title.
• Denzel Bentley and Endry Saavedra competed for the WBO interim middleweight title.

The victory for Wilder ensures that Chisora’s career concludes with a loss in his 50th professional appearance, denying the British heavyweight a victory in his final outing.