British heavyweight titlist Dillian Whyte (20-1, 15 early) and London rival Dereck Chisora (26-7, 18 early) produced one of the fights of the year at the Manchester Arena on Saturday night as they went to war in a 12-round non-title bout. Whyte posted a split decision courtesy of scores of 115-113, 114-115 and 115-114.
Whyte, 28, had been due to defend his belt against Chisora, but “Del Boy” was not allowed to vie for the title after the Board decided to punish the 32-year-old former world title challenger for hurling a table towards his rival at the final press conference.
Chisora was also fined £25,000 plus costs for his moment of madness yet he kept his cool on fight night and contributed a strirring effort, with many judging him unlucky not to walk away with the win.
Whyte, though, is prepared to offer him another crack in 2017. “It was an excellent fight and there may be a potential rematch there,” he said when speaking to the Daily Record.
“I felt I won the fight by three rounds but you leave it to the judges. Credit to Chisora, he showed up. I hit him with some bombs. It was the best Chisora has been since he fought Vitali Klitschko.”
