Derek Chisora becomes mandatory challenger for IBF title

Derek Chisora, a British heavyweight boxer, earned the position of mandatory challenger for the IBF world heavyweight title held by Daniel Dubois after a successful points victory over Otto Wallin in February 2025. This fight marked Chisora's 49th career bout where he showcased his skills by flooring Wallin twice, allowing him to assert his status as a title contender. The match served as an IBF title eliminator, confirming Chisora's eligibility to challenge Dubois, who is aiming for an undisputed heavyweight championship match against Oleksandr Usyk, the WBC, WBO, and WBA champion. However, Usyk has been ordered to conduct a mandatory defense of his WBO title against Joseph Parker, further complicating the heavyweight title landscape. Frank Warren, Chisora's promoter, confirmed the news of Chisora's mandatory challenger status during an announcement to Sky Sports, stating that this was well known prior to the fight. Following his successful bout, the 41-year-old Chisora has indicated that he intends to retire after his 50th fight, signaling a desire for a significant concluding match to his boxing career. Discussions are ongoing between Warren and Eddie Hearn regarding the arrangements for Chisora's 50th fight, further emphasizing their long-standing relationship and commitment to properly concluding Chisora's career. In light of Martin Bakole's recent knockout loss to Parker, another potential contender for the IBF title, Chisora now stands as the foremost IBF contender for Dubois's title. Chisora, who faced Tyson Fury in a WBC title fight last year, is keen on leaving a memorable mark on his impending retirement match.