‘WAR’ vs ‘The Cobra’ – Who wins and why?
This Saturday, July 9, at the O2 Arena in London, two of the heavyweight division’s most exciting fighters do battle again for the second time in six years.
Derek ‘WAR’ Chisora (32-12, 23KO) and Kubrat ‘The Cobra’ Pulev (29-2, 14KO) meet once more after clashing in 2016 with the EBU heavyweight title at stake, and the Bulgarian veteran took the win back then, but this time it is just pride to play for with no belts on the line.
That was Chisora’s sixth career defeat, a tally that has doubled in the interim period. Those losses have tended to come against heavyweights of an elite level, however, and Pulev belongs in that bracket as a former Olympian and world title contender.
Londoner Chisora has been bullish in the face of any suggestion he should hang up his gloves, although it is hard to escape the impression that one of British boxing’s great cult heroes of the 21st century will be fighting for his future in the sport in London.
Will it be repeat or revenge in this return match? Let's find out…
Pulev vs Chisora I
In their first fight, Pulev was in complete control during the opening rounds, judging the distance perfectly and landing his swift jab regularly, as well as some heavy left-right combinations. Chisora was applying pressure and throwing his big bolo rights, it was definitely ‘Boxer’ vs ‘Slugger’. Another big looping right landed on Pulev again in the second. In round three, Pulev landed a beautiful right uppercut on the Brit, that snapped his head to the side, then bombarded him on the ropes in the fourth with stinging one-twos, as well as a good left hook. Incentivised, the Bulgarian kept throwing the straight right after the jab with increasing success in the fifth. At this stage, Pulev had outlanded Chisora by 63 punches to 23. Chisora targeted the body of his opponent in the mid-rounds, where the contest began to get a little scrappy, but the fight had evened up finally. However, Chisora became trapped on the ropes again in the eighth, but he came out fighting in the ninth, forcing Pulev back and landed a short right hook to Pulev’s chin which looked like the hardest punch of the night. The championship rounds were more even than the rest of the contest, but Pulev laughed at Chisora holding his hand up in victory when the last bell tolled, knowing he had done more than enough to win on the scorecards. And he did do enough with scores of 116-112 and 118-110, but one judge disagreed and ruled 115-113 in Chisora's favour.
The Rematch
Recovering from COVID, Pulev claims to have only been 40% fit for his world title fight with Anthony Joshua in December 2020, which he lost in the ninth round.
He has since bounced back with a 10-round unanimous decision win against Jerry Forrest just two months ago in May.
With 79 years between them, this pair of heavyweights, even at their advanced ages, still look solid in the ring.
Anyone who steps in the ring with Chisora knows they are in for a tough fight. That said, the Finchley fighter hasn’t won in almost three years. Retaining his headlining status is testament to what he gives in the ring.
Back with long-term trainer Don Charles, his first pro coach, there’s a possibility that may provide an added advantage with the pair knowing so much about each other.
We all know what we’re going to get with Chisora, he’s tough, rugged, durable, compact and strong. He will try to land his looping right hands over the top and maybe work Pulev to the body like he did in the first fight. He’s not the tallest heavyweight, so he needs to get in close in the rematch.
1-0 up already, Pulev will likely try to keep the fight at range where he can land his quick jabs and one-twos. He possesses a high level of boxing skills so should try to utilise them and not get drawn into a slugfest with the clubber. His right hand was very successful against Chisora before and he used it a lot in his last fight with Forrest, who couldn't cope with it all fight long.
Betting Odds
Visiting fighter Pulev is the favourite with Betway at 4/11, while Chisora is 21/10 despite fighting in his home city, and the odds for a draw are fairly low at 16/1.
Verdict
At first, I just expected another routine Chisora defeat, as we have all come to expect by now, but after hearing Don Charles had trained him for this fight, it got me thinking differently.
Although I rate Pulev’s boxing ability as far higher than Chisora’s, he’s still going to get caught with some big shots from the British brute. Chisora landed a few bombs on ‘The Cobra’ before, but he stayed standing, so it’s hard to envisage a stoppage win for ‘Delboy’. And vice versa, Pulev isn't known for his power, he hasn't had a knockout in over three years, so I really doubt he can get Del out of there on Saturday night.
Although I have tried to entertain various outcomes, I’m going to have be utterly predictable and boring, and go for another points win for Pulev. Sorry!