RESPECT
@MattCBoxingNews
RINGSIDE
MANCHESTER
MAY 1
MAIN EVENT
UNDERCARD
FIGHT WEEK
DEREK CHISORA lost a professional prize fight for the 11th time on Saturday night. “Bulls**t” was his immediate reaction to the split decision being awarded to Joseph Parker after 12 gruelling rounds. That takes the Londoner’s career total to 280, which does not include countless more as an amateur and in the gym. He gave the fight everything he’d got but it wasn’t enough. Not enough to win, not enough to retire a contented man.
Katie Taylor and Natasha Jonas engaged in a thrilling 10-round bout on the undercard. Taylor motored through the final two sessions to take the unanimous victory and retain her world lightweight championship. WBA light-heavyweight belt-holder Dmitry Bivol repelled the plucky challenge of a spirited Craig Richards with precise counter-punching and Marcus Morrison exceeded all expectation when he heard the final bell against gargantuan betting favourite, Chris Eubank Jnr.
The fights were only a small part of the story.
Thursday morning, 10am. Chisora hauls his hulking, unmistakeable frame through the Crowne Plaza hotel restaurant in Manchester and looks for something to keep his restless mind occupied. Chisora’s eyes dart from diner to diner before settling on the most familiar face of them all. The veteran scans his own image on one of the many fight posters advertising this pay-per-view event. “Rock and roll,” he says as he embarks on another lap of the room.
‘I HAVE A TRAINER NOW, I
