Former world champion Deontay Wilder sent Derek Chisora into retirement by edging their engaging yet chaotic heavyweight fight in London, United Kingdom.

The boxers, aged 40 and 42 respectively, threw hopeful knockout punches and barely jabbed. Both slipped and fell to the canvas frequently during the bout at the O2 Arena on Saturday.

Wilder got the only knockdown in the eighth round, sending Chisora through the ropes, but the American was deducted a point in the same round for pushing. Chisora was rattled, but Wilder did not press his advantage.

Wilder dominated the early rounds, and Chisora rallied late. The judges were split in their scoring: Wilder received scores of 115-111 and 115-113, and the third picked Chisora by 115-112

Wilder said the fight was fun and suggested he didn’t want to knock out Chisora.

“Tonight, I looked out for him. I want him to live for his kids,” he told broadcaster DAZN. “It’s time for us to take care of each other.”

Chisora said in the build-up that the fight was to be his last, but the Londoner was reluctant to confirm it afterwards.

“I’m going to go home with the boss lady and see,” he told DAZN. “I’m going to go home and drop the kids, do the school run.”

It was the 50th fight for both in the professional ranks.

Wilder improved his record to 45-4-1. The WBC titleholder from 2015 to 2020 came to London having lost four of his last six fights.

Chisora’s record since 2007, when he turned pro a year before Wilder, dropped to 36-14. He lost his only two title shots against Vitali Klitschko in 2012 and Tyson Fury in 2022.

-The Associated Press

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Manny Pacquiao said he has signed a contract for a fight with Floyd Mayweather and that he ​would not get back into the ring with the ‌American if it was an exhibition bout.

Mayweather, 49, and Pacquiao, 47 announced last month that they would meet at the Sphere ​in Las Vegas in September, with the bout streaming ​globally on Netflix.

However, Mayweather told Vegas Sports Today last ⁠week that it would be an exhibition bout, not ​a real fight, and that a venue had yet to ​be decided.

“If that’s what he is feeling but he signed for a real match. The contract that we signed is for a ​real fight,” Pacquiao told local media on Thursday. “He has ​to remember that.”

Mayweather, who holds a perfect 50-0 record with 27 knockouts, ‌defeated ⁠Pacquiao in a 2015 encounter dubbed the “Fight of the Century”.

Jas Mathur, CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions and a producer for the event, said the agreement was for a fight.

“No ​one in ​these last three ⁠months has brought up anything related to the venue or related to the fight ​not being a professional fight,” Mathur told ​ESPN.

“His team ⁠has had all the contracts. He signed all the contracts.”

Reuters has requested comment from Mayweather’s camp.

The 2015 bout between the ⁠boxers ​generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view ​buys and a $72 million live gate at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

-Reuters

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The Nigerian boxing landscape has been thrown into uncertainty following reports that the Nigerian Boxing Federation (NBF) is considering steps to regulate professional boxing—an area traditionally overseen by the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC).

Reacting swiftly, the NBBofC has dismissed the reports as misleading, warning that any such move could destabilise the established structure of the sport in the country.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Board reaffirmed its statutory authority as the sole body responsible for the regulation, control, and sanctioning of professional boxing in Nigeria.

“The attention of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control has been drawn to insinuations that another body intends to assume regulatory authority over professional boxing in Nigeria. We wish to categorically state that such claims are unfounded and should be disregarded,” the statement read.

The Board stressed that the NBF’s mandate is confined strictly to amateur boxing, in line with global sports governance frameworks, and does not extend to the professional ranks.

NBBofC President, Rafiu Ladipo, warned that any attempt by another organisation to assume control of professional boxing could trigger administrative conflicts, weaken regulatory standards, and expose athletes to unnecessary risks.

The Board also cautioned promoters, managers, and boxers against engaging with unauthorised bodies claiming regulatory powers.

“We advise all promoters, managers, and boxers to remain vigilant and not be misled by such insinuations. The NBBofC remains fully committed to its responsibility of regulating and sanctioning professional boxing in Nigeria in accordance with established rules and international best practices,” the statement added.

Observers within the boxing community note that clarity in regulatory authority is critical—not only for safeguarding athletes but also for ensuring fair competition and maintaining Nigeria’s credibility within the global boxing ecosystem.

For now, the NBBofC has reiterated its resolve to continue overseeing professional boxing in the country, even as stakeholders await further clarification on the reported position of the NBF.

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