Derek Chisora: Age, height, weight, personal life, career

Derek Chisora (born 29 December 1983) is a British professional boxer of Zimbabwean origin. In 2012, he fought Vitali Klitschko for the WBC heavyweight belt.

Early life

Chisora was born in Mbare, a suburb of Harare, Zimbabwe.  He went to Churchill School as a teenager. Chisora and his family immigrated to the United Kingdom when he was 16 years old, settling in Finchley, London.

Professional career

Derek Chisora has roughly 20 amateur fights, including a gold medal at the Four Nations Championships and earning the 2006 ABA super heavyweight title after defeating Tom Dallas in the final.

Chisora began his professional career with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and was taught by Don Charles. He made his professional debut on February 17, 2007, at the Wembley Arena in London, defeating Hungarian István Kecskés in the second round via technical knockout (TKO).

Chisora’s second bout came against English heavyweight Tony Booth on the undercard of Joe Calzaghe’s victorious WBO super-middleweight championship defence against Peter Manfredo Jr at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 7 April 2007.

On January 30, 2009, Chisora defeated Russian Daniil Peretyatko by PTS over eight rounds in his ninth fight. On May 22, 2009, Chisora defeated Paul Butlin for the second time in his tenth fight, extending his record to ten wins. Chisora received a four-month suspension for biting Butlin during the fifth round of their competition. The event was overlooked by referee Dave Parris, but TV replays proved decisive, and Chisora was unable to compete for the British crown against Danny Williams.

On January 20, 2010, it was revealed that Chisora would be given a second chance to face Danny Williams on February 13, 2010, as Sam Sexton was forced to withdraw from his match with Williams due to injury. “It was my own fault the fight with Williams didn’t go ahead, and I’ve been kicking myself ever since,” Chisora said of the opportunity.

However, Williams withdrew from the fight, and Chisora instead fought Carl Baker in a British championship eliminator, with the victor going on to face Williams. At the weigh-in for the fight, Chisora kissed Baker. Baker was knocked out in the second round by Chisora.

2011–2012

Wladimir Klitschko, the IBF, WBO, IBO, Lineal, and Ring magazine heavyweight champion, was set to face Chisora on December 11, 2010, but Klitschko dropped out three days before the fight due to a ruptured abdominal muscle. The bout was later rescheduled for April 30, 2011, however, it was later cancelled so Klitschko could fight David Haye on July 2, 2011.

2013–2014

Chisora received a fresh British Boxing Board of Control licence in March 2013. “I’m glad that this whole episode is finally behind me and I can carry on with my boxing career in my own country and with a British Boxing Board of Control licence,” Chisora remarked.

Chisora returned to the ring on April 20, 2013, at the Wembley Arena in London. He faced off against Argentine Hector Alfredo Avila. Chisora told ESPN that he will dedicate his triumph to the late Margaret Thatcher, who was an MP in Chisora’s hometown of Finchley.

Avila was docked one point in the sixth round for holding and another in the ninth for using his elbow, but he was eventually stopped in the ninth round. Chisora highlighted British competitor David Price when asked who he would like to face next.

2019–2020

On 13 June 2019, a fight between Chisora and former world title challenger Artur Szpilka was announced for 20 July 2019 at the O2 Arena in London, on the undercard of Dillian Whyte vs. Oscar Rivas, live on Sky Sports Box Office. Chisora overcame Szpilka in the second round with a brutal performance. He declared in an interview outside the ring that he wants to face Joseph Parker next.

2021–present

Derek Chisora vs. Joseph Parker was supposed to take place on October 26, 2019, but Parker had to pull out due to a spider bite injury. Following their victories over unbeaten opponents Oleksandr Usyk and Junior Fa, it was announced on 19 March 2021 that Chisora would face the former WBO heavyweight champion on 1 May 2021 for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight title, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Records

In 2012, he fought Vitali Klitschko for the WBC heavyweight belt. He has held many regional heavyweight titles, including the British and Commonwealth titles from 2010 to 2011, as well as the European title from 2013 to 2014. He won the ABA super-heavyweight championship as an amateur in 2006.

BoxRec ranks him as the world’s sixth greatest active heavyweight as of December 2020. Chisora has been recognised as BoxRec’s top 10 heavyweight seven times in a year, attaining his peak position of no.6 in 2013.

Personal life and controversies

Chisora was found guilty of beating his then-girlfriend in November 2010 after she discovered text conversations from another man on her phone. He narrowly avoided prison and received a 12-week sentence suspended for two years. He was ordered to pay £1,500 in compensation and £500 in expenses, as well as perform 150 hours of community service. The boxer also had prior convictions for public order offences, assaulting a police officer, and possessing an offensive weapon, according to the court.

Chisora was arrested in his Bentley near Hyde Park in London in November 2015. Chisora was reported to be driving without a valid driver’s licence, insurance, or an MOT certificate in September 2016. Chisora contested his six-month driving ban after being granted six points. He blamed his insurance broker for the punishment. The hearing has been scheduled for October 10, 2016. Chisora avoided a driving suspension at a court hearing in January 2017 by claiming he assumed he was insured after money had left his account, paying for two drivers.

Chisora backed the Brexit Party in the European Parliament elections in 2019.

Chisora is a Manchester United F.C. fan.

Read more: Derek Chisora record: Early life, career, and record of the professional boxer