1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
Israel-Hamas warRussia's war in UkraineSustainability

Boxer Klitschko beats Chisora

February 19, 2012

Boxer Vitali Klitschko retained his heavyweight title on Saturday night in Munich, beating British challenger Dereck Chisora on points. The fight had a real edge, provided by the boxers' obvious distaste for each other.

https://p.dw.com/p/145VB
Ukrainian WBC heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko (2nd L) reacts upon his victory over British challenger Dereck Chisora (L, back to camera) after their title bout in Munich February 18, 2012.
Image: Reuters

Ukrainian boxer Vitali Klitschko comfortably held his World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title on Saturday, scoring a unanimous points victory over his British challenger Dereck Chisora. The fight at Munich's Olympiahalle (Olympic Hall) may have gone the distance, but the three judges all deemed Klitschko the clear winner.

The much taller Klitschko was able to keep Chisora at arm's length for most of the bout, even though the challenger's swift combination attacks did trouble the 40-year-old champ from time to time - especially as Klitschko tired in the latter stages.

Bad blood between the two fighters gave the fight an added edge, both men chose not to embrace at the end of the twelfth and final round.

"In sporting terms, Chisora put in a solid performance, but as a person I have no respect for him," Klitschko said after the fight.

Klitschko's younger brother Vladimir, a fellow boxer who holds the WBO, IBF, WBA and IBO heavyweight crowns, said he "was ashamed of athletes like Chisora."

Fiery rematch in store?

Chisora was fined 10 percent of his appearance fee ($50,000) shortly before the fight for slapping Klitschko at the weigh-in - he also spat water into the home favorite's face shortly before the bell on Saturday evening, but said that Klitschko provoked him behind the scenes.

"He came into my dressing room before the fight and tried to put me off," the 28-year-old Briton said.

Chisora, who faced boos and jeers from the Klitschko-friendly crowd throughout the fight, immediately called for a rematch, saying "the only thing that beat me tonight was experience."

Controversy continued to court the match-up after the bout, with Chisora getting caught up in a verbal stouch with fellow British boxer David Haye at the post-fight press conference. The argument escalated into a brawl, with both fighters' trainers also getting involved.

Saturday's success takes Klitschko's career record to 44 wins and two defeats.

Although Ukrainian-born, Vladimir and Vitali Klitschko have lived in Germany for many years; they speak the language well, almost invariably fight on German soil, and are popular sporting celebrities. Between them, they hold every available heavyweight title. Younger brother Vladimir is scheduled to take to the ring in Düsseldorf on March 3, defending his belts against French challenger Jean-Marc Mormeck.

msh/mz (AFP, dpa, Reuters)