Derek Chisora Overcomes Kubrat Pulev in a Messy but Riveting Firefight

Two grizzled heavyweights, Kubrat Pulev, 41, and Derek Chisora, 38, renewed acquaintances today in London. A shade more than six full years had passed since their first encounter, a victory for Pulev who copped a 12-round split decision that should have been unanimous.

Their first fight, in Hamburg, Germany, wasn’t particularly entertaining. The rematch was a horse of a different color. A 12-round donnybrook, it also ended in a split decision, but in this case a popular verdict although few would have quibbled with a draw. Chisora prevailed on two of the cards (116-112 and 116-114), overruling the dissenting judge who had it 116-112 for the Bulgarian who went to post a consensus 11/4 (minus-275) favorite.

The fight was an anomaly, a messy affair that was yet very entertaining. Referee Marcus McDonnell issued numerous warnings for holding and rabbit punches. At the end of round 10, both were guilty of throwing punches after the bell had sounded.

In the opening round, Chisora concentrated on Pulev’s rib cage and worked the body effectively. As the bout wore on, it evolved into less of a tactical affair and more of a slugfest. Pulev rocked Chisora in round seven and Chisora returned the favor in the following round. There were no knockdowns, but Pulev suffered a bad cut over his right eye in the 10^th frame after getting cut over his left eye earlier in the bout.

Pulev was appearing in his thirty-second pro fight. Prior to tonight, his only losses had come in world title fights with Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua. With the victory, the battle-tested Chisora advanced his record to 33-12 (14) and stemmed a three-fight losing streak. In his post-fight interview, he called out Deontay Wilder.

Co-Feature

The first meeting between super welterweights Israil Madrimov and Michel Soro, contested in December of last year on Madrimov’s turf in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, ended in controversy. The Spanish referee did not hear the bell ending the ninth frame and stopped the bout well after the bell had sounded. Had the bout been ruled a “no-contest,” it would have been a lucky break for Soro but the WBA let the TKO stand while throwing the Soro camp a bone by ordering a rematch.

In today’s sequel, Madrimov had the best of it in the opening round and turned up the heat in the second, hurting Soro with a big right hand. The third round had barely started when there was a clash of heads that brought a river of blood from a bad gash on Soro’s forehead. The officials had no alternative but to stop the fight.

In many jurisdictions this would be ruled a “no-contest,” but the verdict was announced as a technical draw (creating something of a conundrum for the bookies). Since the bout was a WBA eliminator for Jermell Charlo’s title, a third contest may be in the offing.

Madrimov, who was 8-0 (6) coming in, is very good as befitting the odds; he was a consensus 8/1 favorite. As an amateur, he notched two wins in two opportunities over Cuban standout Arlen Lopez, a two-time Olympic gold medalist. The Uzbek southpaw has been described as a unique talent with Lomachenko-like skills. He has never fought a pro fight scheduled for less than 10 rounds. Michel Soro, a Frenchman born in the Ivory Coast, now sports a record of 35-3-2 (24).

Also

In a predictably brief affair, Dillian Whyte protégé Fabio Wardley (14-0, 13 KOs), bombed out British countryman Chris Healey (9-10) who had lost five of his last six heading in. Wardley knocked Healey down in the opening round and finished him off in the next stanza. The official time was 0:40 of round two.

It was the thirteenth straight win inside the distance for Ipswich’s Wardley who is eyeing a bout with Nathan Gorman. Healey, who looked woefully out of shape, was subbing for Arizona’s Kingsley Ibeh who reportedly had visa problems.

An intriguing 10-round middleweight contest between undefeated Felix Cash and U.S. veteran Vaughn Alexander was scrapped when Cash took ill.

Photo credit: Mark Robinson / Matchroom

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE