In a thrilling showdown between former heavyweight title contenders, the hometown hero Derek Chisora (33-12, 23 KOs) won by split decision over Kubrat Pulev (29-3, 14 KOs) and won the WBA International Champion title in the main event of the evening at the O2 Arena in London.
Chisora started the fight with aggressive attacks on the body, and Pulev acted with combinations at a distance. Chisora had a good seventh round, after which Pulev returned to his corner with bleeding from a cut over his left eye. Pulev was able to shock Chisora in the eighth round, but the Brit somehow returned fire. In the ninth round, the opponents exchanged heavy hits. Pulev outplayed Chisora in the eleventh round, but in the twelfth round Chisora became the author of the most spectacular blows.
The score of judges' notes: 116-112 to Pulev, 116-112 and 116-114 to Chisore. Thus, Chisora interrupted a series of three defeats in a row and avenged Pulev for the defeat by a split decision of the judges six years ago.
