Vitali Klitschko had first become a heavyweight championin 1999, when he picked up the WBO title for knocking outHerbie Hide. In his third defence against Chris Byrd, Klitschko was forced to retire from the fight with a shoulder injury at the end of the ninth round, and despite being well ahead on the scorecards this meant he lost his title and his undefeated record. Five consecutive victories followed before a fresh world title challenge against Britain's Lennox Lewis in 2003. In a close, hard hitting fight, Klitschko was once again ahead on the scorecards before the referee called an end to the fight at the end of the sixth round, deeming a deep cut on Klitschko's face meant that he was unable to continue. With Lewis now retired, within a year Klitschko faced Corrie Sanders for the vacant WBC heavyweight title and won via knockout in the eighth round. After just one defence, he made his first retirement from boxing. After returning to the ring after a four-year absence in 2008, he regained the WBC title at the first attempt by stopping Samuel Peterafter eight rounds. He then saw off a series of challengers, mostly recently Tomasz Adamek, and was now looking to make an eighth consecutive defence of his crown. Meanwhile, challenger Dereck Chisora had become British heavyweight champion in May 2010 after knocking out veteran Danny Williams, and added the Commonwealth title to his name after stopping Sam Sexton four months later. Chisora had been chasing a fight with Vitali's fellow world champion and brother Wladimir, and with that fight scheduled to happen on 11 December 2010, Klitschko pulled out just days prior with a torn abdominal muscle. The rescheduled fight for 30 April 2011 was also cancelled so Klitschko could fight David Haye on July 2. With Klitschko due to fight Adamek, this left Chisora with no other option than to face his mandatory challenger for the British title, the upcoming Tyson Fury. Chisora's 14-0 win streak ended at the hands of the undefeated Fury, who won via twelve round unanimous decision. Chisora then challenged for the vacant European heavyweight title against Finland's Robert Helenius on the Fins home turf in Helsinki. The close fight ended in a split decision victory for Helenius, yet many observers felt this was a robbery and that Chisora had won the fight. Off the back of this, Vitali agreed to make his next defence of his title against Chisora. However, Chisora was heavily criticised for his behaviour at the pre fight weigh in after slapping Vitali across the face when the two went face to face during the staredown, and caused yet more controversy just before the fight when he spat water in the face of Wladimir whilst in the ring before the pre fight introductions. The now 40 year old Klitschko would go into the fight with a record of 43-2, while the 28 year old Chisora was entering just his 18th professional fight with a record of 15-2.
The fight
An injury to Klitschko's left shoulder in the third round prevented him from using his jab and left hand as effectively as normal, but he was still able to keep the hard charging Chisora at bay for the majority of the fight. Despite the constant pressure applied by Chisora, Klitschko was able to use his height and reach advantage to land many powerful right hands to outland his opponent and stay in control. At times Chisora was able to unleash and land some punishment of his own, with most of his work coming to the body and his best round being the twelfth and final round. All three of the judges scored the fight to Klitschko with scores of 118-110, 118-110 and 119-111. Despite the fight being fairly one sided, Chisora earned credit for his chin and heart, and also for giving Klitschko his most competitive fight since his defeat to Lennox Lewis in 2003. Chisora also became only the fourth man, to take Klitschko the full twelve round distance. In the post match press conference, Chisora was involved in a controversial confrontation with fellow British boxer David Haye, which subsequently paved the way for the pair's own grudge match later in the year.
