Derek Chisora winds back the clock to knock down and defeat Joe Joyce in a ten-round heavyweight – recap

“I haven’t boxed for a year, but I had to dig deep,” Chisora said on TNT Sports.

“I was fit, but Joe is a good fighter. I knew I was going to drop him at one stage.

“I want to thank Frank Warren for keeping faith with me. I thought it was a good way to end my career with the man I started with.

“It’s not my last fight – I’ve got two more. It’s my last fight in the O2 Arena. I’ll go to Manchester in December.”

He takes the fight 97-92 on one card and 96-94 (twice) – the latter two scorecards seeming about right. What a performance that was by Chisora.

Joyce chasing Chisora around for most of the fight, but again in the final minute Chisora repeatedly lands big left hooks and right hands from against the ropes. It looks like Chisora has taken it. We will see how the judges see it. Joyce’s quantity or Chisora’s eye-catching blows?

Joyce goes down! Joyce’s shots were having a lot more effect. He could hardly miss Chisora with straight shots and his left hook, but then then veteran swiung for the fences and landed on Joyce’s chin putting the younger fighter on his back.

A big first half of the round for Chisora, landing a big right and then left hooks and jabs, but then Joyce hurt Chisora with a big left hook and he was wilting against the ropes and for a moment it looked like he might get a stoppage.

As TNT Sports pundit Carl Frampton is saying, Joyce is landing more shots but it is Chispra’s which are the more eye-catching. In the final 30 seconds, Joyce landed probably ten-against-two, but both of Chisora’s were big swings which saw sweat fly off the Juggernaut’s head.

Joyce wins this round. Making sure not to over commit he landing on Chisora throughout, though the Finchley fighter hit the target with a couple of rights near the end.

A punishing round for both fighters. Joyce pins Chisora on the ropes landing shots but then Chisora keeps landing big right hands which take the round for him. The audience will feel justified paying to watch this slugfest.

A sickening left hook has Chisora wilting against the ropes, but as he has always manged to do he fights back with a left hook to body and then a left upstairs which hurt Joyce and then a big right hand on the bell has Joyce a little unsteady.

Again both land some decent shots, Chisora with a left hook but Joyce with more as the round closes with a good straight right and a left hook.

Both go punch to punch in the last thirty seconds and though Joyce’s shot seem to have the more impact, Chisora did put him on the back foot with a left hook.

A bit messy for the first couple of minutes but, shortly after Chisora tagged Joyce, he was caught walking onto a left hook which saw the ‘War’ man’s legs buckle.

Joyce (16-2, 15 KOs) takes on Chisora (34-13, 23 KOs).

Derek Chisora came out to Hotel California, presumably influenced by “you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave” line.

Have to say, I have never seen two better dressing gowns than these two men are sporting.

Usyk, who has fought both men, thinks Derek Chisora will force an upset and beat Joe Joyce.

“I think Derek will win,” Usyk said on TNT Sports. “Not easily but I think he will win.”

Garner retains the WBC international super featherweight title 98-92 and 97-93 (twice), with Sharp losing for the first time in his career.

Both have their moments but Sharp maybe lands the better as both fight to the final bell.

A scrappier round, Garner probably takes it but there have been a fair few close rounds.

Another good round for Sharp, he is back in this fight now. Incredible spirit to keep himself in the fight. Garner is being untidy coming forward and Sharp landing cleaner.

A better round for Sharp, using his footwork to get away from Garner and landing as his opponent looked to close the distance.

It was all Garner for the majority of the round, landing hurtful right hands on Sharp, but gamely the Welling fighter landed strong blows of his own in the closing stages.

Garner is landing more right hands, with Sharp’s vision surely impaired and he visibly wilted taking one against the ropes in the closing moments.

Sharp’s good start could well be ruined by the cut which is over his left eye and he is constantly pawing at it to keep the blood out of it. It is a target for Garner now.

Sharp with the shot of the round in the last thirty seconds saw Garner’s legs buckle a little, it may give the Welling man the round. Sharp does have a cut though.

Garner closing the distance better in this round, but he gets a warning for his shots drifting south of the border. Both exchange hooks on the bell. A difficult round to score.

Garner looked to press the pace but was caught numerous times by Sharp, including with a big counter right hand. Sharp takes the opener.

A domestic blockbuster between two unbeaten fighters as Ryan Garner (15-0, 8 KOs) takes Archie Sharp (25-0, 9 KOs).

The Queensberry team are unanimous on what Itauma’s next fight should be.

“Wardley, Frazer Clarke you’re on notice,” Francis Warren said.

Frank Warren added: “I’d take that fight tomorrow. The British Board should order it (as an eliminator for the British title).”

“That is a statement – a lot of people have fought him and not stopped him,” Itauma said on TNT Sports. “But he hasn’t fought anyone like me before.”

A minute into the round Itauma lands a left right left combination which see Wach flop back into the corner post. A minute later a similar combination was landed in the centre of the ring and this saw Wach hit the canvas. Shortly afterwards a flurry saw the referee step in as Wach took consecutive shots without response in the corner.

A patient round from Itauma but hse still lands a couple f good straight lefts which seem to be taking the enthusiasm out of Wach already.

Some accolade that from TNT Sport’s two-weight world champion.

McCann wins 117-111 (twice) and was given a perfect night 120-108 on the other.

Bar getting the stoppage, McCann could have done little more. Baluta spat his gumshield out to get some needed restbite in the final minute. This could be a shutout for McCann and few dominate Baluta so completely. In fairness to the Romanian, he was swinging until the final bell.

Consecutive straight lefts have Baluta in trouble, his head swivelling and legs wobbling but the Romanian quickly recovers and keeps his feet.

McCann does look like he has tightened his technique since moving to his stable in Liverpool. His footwork and head movement has been superb. Once more Baluta is on the floor as he misses wildly with a big swing. McCann landed some more tough body shots but Baluta took them well.

You have to give credit to Baluta. He was being tagged again and went to the floor with another slip, but then landed a couple of nice counter right hands. It is still McCann who is landing must more shots though and you wouldn’t be surprised if a counter shot puts him on thr brink soon.

McCann dominating but not pushing too hard, perhaps after chasing at the end of the last round.

McCann stalking Baluta now. He hurt him badly with two shots with either hand to the body and with another 30 seconds he may have got the stoppage.

McCann’s discipline has been so good squeezing the distance for Baluta, who went to the floor but it was not ruled a knockdown. He also spat out his gumshield at one point. Together, signs he may be tiring.

McCann is warned for a punch after the break. He could have been deducted a point it was that late. Elsewhere it is the same story.

It is the same round over again at the moment. Baluta coming in trying wild, wide shots while McCann punches straight through the middle landing more.

McCann is keeping his posture while Baluta, unorthodox as always, is swinging wildly.

Baluta looks the cleaner puncher. Though McCann presses more most of his shots are hitting air or landing on gloves, but in the closing moment McCann landed a flush counter right hook.

A good first round with McCann pressing the fight at a great pace and pushing Baluta back but the Romanian is also landing and has reddied McCann’s cheek.

Last time these met the fight was a draw. Baluta (16-4-1, 3 KOs) went against the script when he held the British and Commonwealth champion McCann (15-0-1, 8 KOs) last time.

He takes the fight 79-73 and 78-74 (twice). The scorecard was a little generous but he pretty clearly won five rounds with a couple of other close ones.

Another Barajas round as he pressures the home fighter who could not keep dancing away from the Colombian and was too often trapped against the ropes.

With a little more class Barajas could have caused Barney-Smith even more problems here. He maybe took this round as well but is still probably needing a knockdown at least in the last.

He is still coming forward Barajas but he did not land anything until a couple of rights late in the round. For most of it, ‘Sugar Boy’ was the matador landing right hands and straight lefts.

Barney-Smith wrested back the momentum in that round, landing strong straight lefts which Barajas felt and even stopped his forward press.

Good round for Barajas. This is a test for Barney-Smith. Maybe he had a round off, but the Colombian has not given up like most of Barney-Smith’s opponents by this point in the contest. The away fighter landed with the power shots there.

Barajas’ nose is bleeding as Barney-Smith continues to land with good shots. Barney smith has a cut next to his eye after the earlier clash of heads.

A mature performance from Barney-Smith. He landed a nice straight left and a lead right hook, but the two clashed heads near the end of the round.

A good start from Barney-Smith, typified by a peach of a left hook to the body from his southpaw stance.

The Nightmare won 97-94 and 96-94 (twice). A little closer than Carl Frampton thought it would be certainly but the right winner.

Noakes kept pushing to the end, but never really looked like stopping Bassi who certainly deserved to see the final bell.

Noakes wants to push for a knockout but his tank is fairly near empty himself so cannot sustain attacks. Still, his round once more.

Noakes landing some paintful shots in close, hooks with either hand and uppercut making Bassi visibly wilt. Bassi is landing flush himself as Noakes swings a bit wildly but they are having little effect.

The best round of the fight for Noakes. Bassi is getting tired and is struggling to keep him off as much. He landed with a couple of strong right hands and Bassi has been left with a mark under his eye.

Another close round, many could be given each way, but you get the feeling – and our commentators support this – that most are going to Noakes.

A round with a similar pattern, I might give this one to Bassi. He landed with a good short right hand and matches Noakes’ jab.

A messy fight and to be quite honest, not looking forward to another six rounds of this. Noakes is winning through endeavour, if not quality. On punches landed, the two are close but the feel is Noakes is taking the rounds.

The referee warns both fighters as the heads comes close together. Noakes is starting to land some power shots. Bassi needs to start throwing his right hand to keep Noakes off.

Noakes throwing more but Bassi the more accurate. The best shot a short left from Noakes.

Not much action, but Noakes looking to push the fight and landed more jabs.

Sean Noakes (7-0, 4 KOs) fights Inder Bassi (12-1, 1 KO) for the vacant belt.

Not a hard one to call from the referee, giving the score 40-36 for the new Prince.

Hamed ends a dominant performance, winning every second of every round. He showcased his skills, but never really looked like hurting his opponent.

Velichkov very much in defensive mode and covering up very well. Hamed getting through with less and not looking like taking out his Bulgarian opponent.

Showing his full punching range. Right hooks to the body as well as right jabs, straight lefts and a lunging lead uppercut which does have a glimmer of the old Prince.

Naseem’s son, Aadam. is first in the ring. Not as flash as his father but completely dominant in the first round.

We will be with you all the way through to the big men step in the ring late this evening.

Joyce v Chisora will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage of the fight night starting at 18:15 BST.

You can subscribe to TNT Sports through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

The fight can also be live streamed on discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.

Joyce and Chisora will headline the event at London’s O2 Arena, with ring walks for the main event expected to be around 22:30 BST.

Joyce v Chisora also features an intriguing undercard, which includes a bout between Dennis McCann (15-0-1) and Ionut Baluta (16-4-1) for the vacant European super-bantamweight championship.

McCann and Baluta will face off again after their first meeting in August 2023 ended in a majority draw following an accidental head clash in the ninth round.

• Joe Joyce v Derek Chisora
• Dennis McCann v Ionut Baluta
• Ryan Garner v Archie Sharp
• Moses Itauna v Mariusz Wach
• Brandun Lee v TBA
• Raven Chapman v Yohana Sarabia
• Aadam Hamed v Georgi Velichkov
• Sean Noakes v Inder Bassi
• Royston Barney-Smith v Brian Barajas
• Umar Khan v Kaddour Hmiani
• Jermaine Dhliwayo v Engel Gomez