Joseph Parker survives early knockdown to defeat Derek Chisora (Video)

Joseph Parker and Derek Chisora engaged in a heavyweight war. Chisora had Parker in early trouble, but Parker survived and relied on his boxing skills.

The May 1 boxing bout from Manchester, England, between heavyweights Joseph Parker and Derek Chisora looked like it would be a fast night in the first few seconds, but it turned into a grueling battle that went the full 12 rounds.

Chisora (32-11, 23 KOs) put former WBO heavyweight champion Parker on the AO Arena canvas in the first eight seconds of round1. It was a clean overhand right from Chisora that sent Parker down. Parker didn’t look all that hurt and quickly got to his feet but was mauled by Chisora for the rest of the round.

Chisora and Parker came into their matchup with new trainers in their corners. Parker had former middleweight champion, Andy Lee, as his new trainer, while Chisora worked with Buddy McGirt for the first time. Despite the new cornermen, Parker and Chisora fought in their familiar styles.

Chisora looked excellent for the first four or five rounds. He crowded Parker and didn’t give him any room to box. Chisora closed the distance effectively and delivered hard blows to Parker’s body. He also slipped in the overhand right on occasion.

Derek Chisora fought his fight for the first five rounds, but Joseph Parker showed his youth and was the more energetic boxer down the stretch

The tenor of the fight shifted in round 6. Chisora’s work rate dropped, and Parker started to create distance with his jab.

Before the seventh round, Chisora was breathing heavily in his corner. His gas tank was left empty from the first half of the fight, and he looked like the more depleted fighter for the rest of the fight.

Chisora never gave up and outworked Parker in the 12th and final round, but it was too little too late. One judge had the fight 115-113 for Chisora, but the other two had Parker up 115-113 and 116-111 giving Parker the split-decision victory.

Chisora has now dropped his last two bouts in a row, even though he gave a strong effort in both fights. The British boxer is now 37 years old and probably will never get a title shot, but there’s still fight left in him.

Parker (29-2, 21 KOs) will return to New Zealand with his fifth win in a row and is on the hunt for another major heavyweight contest.