On February 8th, at the Co-op Live in Manchester, a brand new page in the history of boxing could be written. One of the most highly anticipated matches in recent memory will take place, potentially marking the final chapter of an illustrious career. The celebrated British boxer Derek Chisora, 40 years old, will face the Swedish talent Otto Wallin, in a bout that could be the Londoner’s final fight. With a long and storied career behind him, Chisora has built a reputation for his resilience and determination in the ring. However, time is catching up.
This match could very well be Chisora’s last one. The showdown against Wallin is bound to be a defining moment, not only for Chisora but also to see if there’s room for more in his boxing journey. Fans looking to place bets on this thrilling event can claim their sign-up offer here for free bets, catching the opportunity to compare the best odds available before the big fight. Checking this platform can give the bettor valuable insights on who is the favourite fighter and what should he expect for the upcoming bout that boxing fans worldwide circled in red on their agendas.
The last dance: a fitting nickname
Chisora never said anything official about his retirement. Clearly, at 40 an athlete can’t hope to stay competitive much longer but nowadays there are a lot of talented sportsmen (and sportswomen of course) who defy time and stay relevant much longer than expected. The match against Wallin will be the 49th in Chisora’s career and the athlete will push to fight at least another time, in order to retire after 50 professional fights. The idea that this will be the Londoner’s last rodeo is probably a marketing strategy, rather than an actual decision. Obviously, selling a bout as the last dance of one of the greatest boxers of our time is a strong promotion.
The match will feature a mighty clash of heavyweights in East Manchester. During the press conference both fighters looked confident and ready to enter the ring. Chisora, who will have a lot of supporters in the Co-op Live, said that he’s about to bring war to Wallin, emphasising his well-known nickname. The boxer, however, is already looking forward to a 50th match, after which he’ll probably hang his gloves for good.
Wallin respects the veteran but, of course, doesn’t want to play the part of the sparring partner, the dummy put on the ring only to be defeated. He’ll fight until the end, as he usually does, looking for a way to upset Chisora, in front of a friendly crowd, and bring home a memorable win.
The build-up to the last dance
Born in Zimbabwe, Chisora is a supporter of Manchester United Football Club and loves the city of Manchester. The organisers considered this in the build-up to the match and are doing a good job in promoting it. Dmitry Salita, the main man behind the bout, wanted to book Jarrell Miller instead of Wallin, but the two never saw eye-to-eye and, in the end, the chosen one to challenge Chisora became Wallin. The Swedish boxer is desperately looking for a comeback win. Recently, he lost to Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Last summer, he managed to win, by KO, but that match was against Onoriode Ehwarieme, not exactly a fearmonger in the circuit.
In February, Wallin will have his chance. He would be a sort of guest of honor in a match card focused on British boxers and athletes from the Commonwealth, where some local belts will be awarded. As usual, it will be very funny to see some boxing action made in Britain, since this country loves the sport. Chisora appears to be fit enough: last July he won against Joe Joyce, in a difficult match where the two British athletes didn’t show any mercy whatsoever. Probably, in Manchester we will see another good match. We just have to wait a couple of months more.
