Deontay Wilder beats battling Derek Chisora as epic bout goes the distance

• Wilder wins heavyweight contest on split decision

• British boxer earns hero's reception in final fight

Deontay Wilder consigned the British heavyweight Derek Chisora to defeat in his final bout but only after an exhilarating fight-of-the-year contender at a raucous O₂ Arena. In the 50th bout of Chisora's eventful professional career, Del Boy showed remarkable powers of recovery to come back from a punishing eighth round and take the former WBC champion the distance in south-east London.

After the American showed early on the power that once made him one of the most formidable punchers in heavyweight history, Chisora's farewell threatened to turned into a nightmare during a one-sided start.