Last week in the Amsterdam News, we examined the need for fighters to prioritize health over financial gain and to retire earlier rather than later to have the best possible quality of life as they age.
Two prime examples clashed on Saturday, with 40-year-old former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (45-4-1, 43 KOs), who is 5-4-1 in his last nine fights, including suffering three brutal knockout losses in those 10 matches, defeated 42-year-old Derek Chisora (36-14, 23 KOs), 115-111, 112-115, and 115-113 at the O2 Arena in London, England in the 50th fight for both.
Hailing from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Wilder was facing a popular U.K. figure in Chisora. Born and raised in Zimbabwe until his family moved to the North London district of Finchley when he was 16, Chisora has been outspoken about politics, including supporting the U.K. Brexit movement and the country’s former right-wing Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
As for the fight, it was intense and chaotic, with moments of disorder that included a member of Chisora’s team entering the ring during the match.
“…So many things went on, I got hit in the back of the head like at least 10 to 12 different times, and then when I finally want to retaliate and hit back, you point fingers at me,” a frustrated Wilder said at the post-fight press conference. “This man keeps hitting me in the back of the head … I’m getting dizzy, but I’m bouncing back. How many fighters got hit in the head and don’t wake up tomorrow?
“I feel good externally, but internally,” Wilder added, “something may be developing inside of me that I can’t see right now because a referee decided to allow something to happen that shouldn’t have happened.”
Chisora announced that the Wilder matchup was the last fight of his career. Conversely, Wilder aims for at least one more payday and briefly spoke with Anthony Joshua, another U.K. boxer and former unified heavyweight champion.
“I said, ‘Now let’s get it on,’ and it was as simple as that. I’m ready for whoever. As long as these guys is in the heavyweight division, I’m here.”
Hebert Conceicao Sousa (10-0, 5 KOs) won the gold medal in the middleweight division in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He will face Johan Gonzalez (36-5, 34 KOs) tomorrow at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. In the co-main event, Francisco Daniel Veron (16-1-1, 10 KOs) will take on Raul Garcia (15-2-1, 12 KOs).
Longtime Wilder foe Tyson Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs), himself a former unified champion, will meet Arslanbek Makhmudov (21-2, 19 KOs) on Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London.
Next Saturday, the women will be featured at Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden when Alycia Baumgardner (17-1, 7 KOs) defends her title against Bo Mi Re Shin (19-3-3, 10 KOs. In the co-main event, New Jersey’s unified super middleweight champion Shadasia Green (16-1, 11 KOs) will face Lani Daniels (11-4-2, 1 KO).
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