Walker: Is Chisora-Wilder heavyweight clash really the end for either man?

Two mainstays of the modern era. A devastating puncher who reigned as world champion for a long time and a battle-hardened veteran who was not quite good enough to reach the pinnacle despite winning the hearts and respect of fights fans who admired his efforts to get there. 

With their careers combined, Wilder and Chisora have featured in 98 fights, 49 each, and next year will see the latter celebrate 20 years as a professional fighter if he decides to carry on with Wilder not too far behind. 

They meet this Saturday, both in the last minutes of their illustrious careers . With their fight being sold as the last dance of two of the heavyweight division's biggest characters, is it possible for either to walk away after what is set to be a grand occasion at London’s O2 Arena, live and exclusive on DAZN PPV and Ultimate Tier?   

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To see Chisora still headlining major events in 2026 is nothing short of remarkable and a testament to the Londoner’s longevity in the sport.

A national champion as an amateur, Chisora turned professional in 2007, but five years later the first question marks on what he could achieve in the sport began to appear. 

Four defeats in five fights, all in the space of one year, started with a wide points loss to Tyson Fury and ending with a brutal stoppage against David Haye.

With a failed world title crack against Vitali Klitschko in between, Chisora had been handed several opportunities to prove that he was one of the best heavyweight in the world, but he was not able to grab the chance and the first concerns for his safety inside the ring began to be aired. 

Will Chisora retire after this?

Instead, Chisora slipped into a familiar routine that would see him spend the next 14 years rebuilding then relapsing as he remained a constant fixture at the business end of the heavyweight division.

Further losses to Fury, both of them worrying, and an empathic knockout setback against Dillian Whyte increased the volume on noise urging Chisora to call it a day and there was even times when promoters would be criticised for using Chisora on shows as his welfare became the main priority. 

Despite being no stranger to defeats, Chisora has lost on 13 occasions at time of writing with four of them coming early, the former world title challenger has demonstrated an ability to find a win when his ailing career badly needed it. 

His incredible turnaround against France’s Carlos Takam added value to his reputation and a 2022 score settler with Kubrat Pulev allowed him to challenge Fury for a third time and end a bleak run that saw him endure three consecutive losses when going in with Oleksandr Usyk and Joseph Parker twice.

Heading into the Wilder showdown, Chisora is currently enjoying a rich vein of form, but the same cannot be said for Wilder. 

From destroyer to dud - where is Wilder now?

At the start of 2020, Wilder was the most menacing heavyweight in boxing, but heading into his must-win showdown with Chisora he only has two wins from six fights since that year got underway.

Two nasty stoppage defeats to Tyson Fury appear to have done serious damage to Wilder’s makeup and further rot set in when going down easily to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang. 

Just a few years ago, Wilder would have been a lopsided favourite to defeat and perhaps even destroy Chisora, but tables turn quickly in boxing and it is Chisora who has the backing of the public and the bookmakers when predictions are being made. But is this the final time when the people will be forced into making a pick for either Chisora or Wilder. 

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For the loser, it is hard to imagine how they can possibly come back and fight again despite the popularity that each man has in abundance. 

Would promoters or networks really want to invest in a fighter the wrong side of 40 who is coming off a loss against another fighter approaching middle age?

Profiles and names matter so someone may take a punt, but at what cost to the fighter’s health and could the man who suffers defeat really be built back into an attraction? Or even want to be? 

Chisora vs Wilder - the potential of a classic

The victor may be persuaded to fight again as wins can often provide false hope, and it is entirely possible for the winner of Chisora vs. Wilder to genuinely believe they have what it takes to land anther world title shot against Oleksandr Usyk or Fabio Wardley. 

In an ideal world, where the perfect storyline ending exists, Wilder and Chisora will both turn back the clock for one last time and deliver a classic heavyweight fight that can remind fight fans just how important the contribution of each man has been to the heavyweight division over the last two decades. 

An entertaining fight. The right winner. And then a warm embrace before the boxers are interviewed side by side to announce their joint retirement.  

Instead, expect the winner to demand another huge fight after the adrenaline of victory kicks in and for the loser to discover a way back after being totally unsatisfied with his performance and the result. There’s almost 20 years of evidence to suggest anything different will occur.  

Chisora and Wilder have never altered their outlook during that time, so why would they change now?

Watch Chisora vs. Wilder only on DAZN

Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder square off this Saturday, April 4, exclusively on DAZN PPV. Buy as a one-off PPV or get this, Wardley vs. Dubois (May 9), and Usyk vs Verhoeven (May 23) PPVs all included with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription for £22.99 / $44.99 per month. 

For more information, pricing and to buy, click here .