The decision is definitely going to be debated, but Joseph Parker edged past Derek Chisora via split decision in a rugged heavyweight main event from Manchester, England, moving closer to another possible world title shot.
Parker won on two cards of 115-113 and 116-111, the latter of which is a pretty awful score, and one card going to Chisora, 115-113. Bad Left Hook had the fight 114-113 for Chisora.
Chisora (32-11, 23 KO) dropped Parker (29-2, 21 KO) inside the first 10 seconds of the fight, a debatable call itself but on replay looked cleaner than not, certainly wasn’t feet getting tangled or a slip. The question is more if the punch caused it, but it’s hard to say it didn’t, and referee Steve Gray said it did.
The 37-year-old Chisora gave his usual maximum effort, bulling forward and looking to physically maul Parker, 29, and he had a lot of success doing it. Parker did sharp-shoot well at times, but often took his foot off the gas when it seemed he could have done more, including in the 12th round when he appeared to have Chisora hurt, then backed off and let Chisora roar back with what little the veteran had left.
