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Oleksandr Usyk took another step towards a shot at the heavyweight world title in 2021 with a unanimous decision win over a spunky Derek Chisora at Wembley SSE Arena.
Usyk, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion, took some heavy blows from the British veteran, who weighed nearly 40 pounds more than his opponent. The Ukrainian used his superior speed and movement to take over mid-stage, staggering Chisora and putting him on the ropes in the seventh round.
The 33-year-old received the nod from the judges, earning two scores of 115-113 and one of 117-112. “It is a real test at heavyweight. Chisora is a big tough guy. “Usyk told Sky Sports afterward.” I fought his fight, but I was expecting an even tougher fight.
Usyk moves to 18-0 (13 KOs) and is the mandatory challenger for Anthony Joshua’s WBO crown. The left-hander called his own performance against Chisora ”three” out of ten, but still believes he can become the “undisputed world champion” of the heavyweight division.
Chisora felt that “100%” deserved to win the fight. “I took a couple of rounds away, but I was picking up the pace,” said the 36-year-old. “But the judges saw it differently. I am disappointed with the result and basically I am devastated ”.
Earlier on Saturday, Savannah Marshall claimed the vacant WBO middleweight crown in impressive style when she handed Hannah Rankin her first loss by knockout.
The Hartlepool fighter was on top against her Scottish opponent at the SSE Arena, and hit the gas in the seventh of the 10 scheduled rounds. A couple of brutal shots to the body forced Rankin to his knees and although he stood up, referee Phil Edwards rejected the fight.
Marshall improved his record to 9-0 and now has his sights set on Claressa Shields, an Olympic gold medalist who holds world titles at middleweight and the next division. The American fighter is 10-0 as a professional, but suffered her only amateur loss to Marshall, who beat Shields en route to winning the 2012 world title.
“The only reason Claressa got the belts is because she came before me, not because she’s better than me,” Marshall said. “I’ll tell you now that it certainly isn’t and I know it doesn’t want to have anything to do with me.”
