Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder went to the judges’ scorecards and the Bronze Bomber won the fight by split decision

Deontay Wilder beat Derek Chisora on points in an epic heavyweight brawl at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday night.

Both fighters went toe-to-toe in the capital in a fight full of twists and turns but it is Wilder who prevailed with the American winning by split decision.

Chisora and Wilder both hit the floor but managed to survive being counted out and it was the latter who would prevail when the fight went to the judges, securing the backing of two of the three ringside.

Both men showed their age – they are 42 and 40 respectively – but put on a show for the thousands in attendance at the O2 and watching worldwide.

“I knew Derek was going to come and bring everything, it’s his retirement fight,” Wilder said immediately after the fight. “I saw his eye swell, temple start to buckle, I said, ‘you’ve got to live for your kids’.

“I didn’t want to hurt him, I saw my brother getting hurt, too many lives have been lost in this ring. “When it’s over, nobody give a f*** about us. Fighters have to look after each other. I want him to live for a kid, it’s time to take care of each other.”

“I feel good,” Wilder added. “Derek, he’s a warrior, he came like a warrior, he came like a lion but I don’t play boxing, I come to end it.

“Many people doubted me, threw dirt on my name but you can’t throw dirt on someone that’s chosen. London, you saw what power and destiny is all about. Derek, we’ve got to go fishing.

“Tonight’s was very fun, I was having good fun in there, Derek got a lot of good shots off but I’m a king. I showed that the shots I absorbed, I come back, it took a long time for me to heal. I’m going to get better and better. Man, what a fun night.”

Chisora had his say, telling DAZN: “Some of the rounds were very close. I am just upset that I came out of the ropes, because if I didn’t come out of the ropes I would have won that fight.

“He pushed me out of the ropes once and the second one I just came out for some reason, it happens.”