Derek Chisora

Derek Chisora (born 29 December 1983) is a Zimbabwean British professional boxer.

Derek Chisora was born on 29 December 1983 in Mbare, a suburb South of the Zimbabwe capital Harare, the son of Viola and Paul Chisora.

Following his parents' divorce when he was 4, Chisora spent his early years in Hatfield, in the care of his maternal grandmother and step-grandfather.

As a teenager he attended Churchill School, where he became a paramedic for the school's sports team.

Chisora and his family moved to the United Kingdom in 1999 when he was 16 and lived in Finchley, London.

A late starter in the sport, Chisora began boxing aged 19.

His club, Finchley ABC in Barnet, North London, was also home to heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

As an amateur, he won the ABA super-heavyweight title in 2006.

As of January 2024, Chisora is ranked as the world's tenth-best active heavyweight by BoxRec.

Chisora had around 20 amateur fights, which included winning the 2006 ABA super heavyweight title, after defeating Tom Dallas in the final, and a gold medal at the Four Nations Championships.

Chisora turned professional under Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions banner and was trained by Don Charles, alongside Dean Powell in his corner.

Chisora made his professional debut on 17 February 2007 at the Wembley Arena in London, beating Hungarian István Kecskés by a technical knockout (TKO) in the second round.

Chisora's second fight was against English heavyweight Tony Booth at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 7 April 2007, on the undercard of Joe Calzaghe's successful WBO super-middleweight title defence against Peter Manfredo Jr.., winning a points decision (PTS), by 40–36.

Chisora's third fight was at the York Hall in London against Welshman Darren Morgan (5–1, 3 KOs) on 13 October 2007, winning on points after four rounds.

Chisora stated in 2022 that Morgan was the hardest puncher he has ever faced in his career.

In January 2008, Chisora scored a four-round PTS victory over Paul Butlin at the York Hall, achieving his third points victory in a row, to take his record to 4–0.

In June that year, in his first fight over six rounds, Chisora came up against the toughest test of his career in fellow undefeated British heavyweight prospect, Sam Sexton (7–0, 2 KOs).

The bout was stopped in the final 30 seconds of the last round, when the referee decided Sexton was taking too much punishment and declared Chisora the winner by TKO.

In Chisora's sixth fight, on 12 September 2008 at the Grosvenor House, in his first fight over eight rounds, he defeated American Shawn McLean via sixth-round stoppage.

In Chisora's seventh fight, on 26 September 2008, against Lee Swaby, Chisora took his undefeated record to 7–0 with a third-round stoppage victory.

In his eighth professional appearance, on 6 December 2008, Chisora defeated Neil Simpson at the ExCeL via a second-round corner retirement, leaving him with an 8–0 record at the end of his second year as a professional.

In Chisora's ninth bout, on 30 January 2009, he defeated Russian Daniil Peretyatko by PTS over eight rounds.

In Chisora's tenth fight, on 22 May 2009, he defeated Paul Butlin for the second time, to extend his record to ten wins.

Chisora was suspended for four months for biting Butlin's ear during the fifth round of their contest while in a clinch.

The incident was missed by referee Dave Parris but TV replays proved conclusive, and as a result Chisora missed out on his fight for the British heavyweight title against Danny Williams.

He was also fined £2,500.

On 9 October 2009, in his eleventh bout, Chisora defeated Georgian Zurab Noniashvili, knocking Noniashvili down and winning by TKO in three rounds at York Hall.

He was supposed to face Matt Skelton for the vacant Southern Area heavyweight title at the Wembley Arena in London, but the bout was cancelled.

At regional level, he has held multiple heavyweight championships, including the British and Commonwealth titles from 2010 to 2011, and the European title from 2013 to 2014.

On 20 January 2010, it was announced that Chisora would get a second chance to face Danny Williams on 13 February 2010 after Sam Sexton was forced to withdraw through injury from his match with Williams.

Chisora welcomed the chance, saying, "It was my own fault the fight with Williams didn't go ahead, and I've been kicking myself ever since."

Williams pulled out of the bout.

Chisora instead fought Carl Baker in a British title eliminator, with the winner to face Williams.

Baker entered with a unanimous decision win four months prior over Williams in the Prizefighter Series.

Chisora grabbed and kissed Baker at the weigh-in for the fight.

Chisora stopped Baker in the second round.

On 2 May 2010, it was once again announced that Chisora would get yet another chance to face Danny Williams on 15 May 2010, at the Boleyn Ground in London, after Sam Sexton was forced to withdraw a second time from his rescheduled match with Williams, following his mother falling seriously ill.

He has challenged twice for the WBC heavyweight title in 2012 and 2022.

He has been ranked by BoxRec as among the world's top 10 heavyweights since 2013, reaching his highest ranking at No. 5 in 2013 and 2020.

Chisora's knockout-to-win percentage stands at 67%.