Former world champion Joseph Parker took another step to becoming a heavyweight title contender after beating Derek Chisora by split decision in Manchester Arena on Saturday. Parker overcame being knocked down by a right swing just seconds into the non-title bout. The New Zealander, who lost his WBO title to Anthony Joshua in 2018, gradually came back into a toe-to-toe fight that he tipped thanks to his late pressure, cleaner punches and work rate. Two judges gave Parker 116-111 and 115-113 scores, and one gave Chisora 115-113. Parker’s fifth successive win since he lost to Joshua and Dillian Whyte improved his record to 29-2. Francis Ngannou vs Tyson Fury fuel heavyweight super-fight rumours – ‘I’d smoke you in the first round’ Chisora, who lost his one world title shot against Vitali Klitschko in 2012, dropped to 32-11. Meanwhile, Katie Taylor retained her WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO women’s lightweight titles after a narrow points victory over Natasha Jonas in another thriller. Eight seconds into #ChisoraParker and we already have a knockdown pic.twitter.com/xcv8Q57RUG — DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 1, 2021 Nearly nine years on from their quarter-final showdown at the 2012 London Olympics, which Taylor won en route to the gold medal, the unbeaten Irish fighter prevailed again in an equally absorbing 10-round bout. Taylor’s superior speed and accurate combinations barely won the day from the judges, who scored it 96-94, 96-95, 96-95. Tyson Fury awaits as Anthony Joshua KOs Kubrat Pulev to retain heavyweight belts Jonas moved up in weight to take on Taylor after a controversial draw against WBC super featherweight champion Terri Harper last August. Also, unbeaten Russian boxer Dmitry Bivol retained his WBA light-heavyweight belt when he beat British champion Craig Richards by unanimous decision. The shorter Bivol was defensively better and landed more eye-catching shots. The judges decided it 118-110, 115-113, and 115-114. Bivol improved to 18-0, while Richards’ record dropped to 17-2.
