Derek Chisora’s potential shot at a world heavyweight title, once seemingly within grasp, has encountered significant hurdles as the landscape of the IBF heavyweight division has dramatically shifted since early 2025. While Chisora had indeed carved out an impressive late-career run, the paths to a mandatory challenge have been redefined by key bouts involving other top contenders.
Chisora, now 42, had seemingly secured a golden opportunity to challenge for the IBF title following a hard-fought points win over Otto Wallin on February 8, 2025. This victory was a testament to Chisora’s enduring spirit, as his career has seen something of an Indian summer. He notably defeated Kubrat Pulev by split decision on July 9, 2022, in a highly anticipated rematch. Further solidifying his resurgence, Chisora scored a significant unanimous decision victory over Joe Joyce on July 27, 2024, at The O2 Arena in London, a fight that saw him drop Joyce in the ninth round. These wins, alongside his triumph over Wallin, showcased Chisora’s continued relevance in the heavyweight division. The original article, published in April 2025, correctly anticipated his retirement after his 50th professional fight. That milestone bout occurred on April 4, 2026, when Chisora faced former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, losing by split decision in a twelve-round contest held in Greenwich, United Kingdom.
The Shifting Heavyweight Landscape: Dubois, Usyk, and the IBF Title
The IBF title picture underwent substantial changes, directly impacting Chisora’s aspirations. Daniel Dubois, who was initially reported to be close to finalizing a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, had a complex journey to the IBF belt. The first encounter between Usyk and Dubois took place on August 26, 2023, in Wrocław, Poland, where Usyk retained his unified heavyweight titles with a ninth-round knockout, though the fight was marred by controversy surrounding a low blow call against Dubois in the fifth round.
Following this, Usyk briefly achieved undisputed status by defeating Tyson Fury in May 2024. However, Usyk vacated his IBF title on June 25, 2024, opting for a rematch with Fury (which he won in December 2024) rather than facing his IBF mandatory challenger. This opened the door for Daniel Dubois. Dubois capitalized on this opportunity, securing the vacant IBF heavyweight title by delivering a shocking fifth-round knockout victory over Anthony Joshua in May 2025.
The anticipated rematch between Usyk and Dubois, billed as “Undisputed,” eventually materialized on July 19, 2025, at Wembley Stadium in London. In this highly anticipated bout, Usyk once again proved his dominance, defeating Dubois by fifth-round knockout to reclaim the undisputed heavyweight championship, including the IBF title that Dubois had recently won.
The IBF Eliminator Saga: Hrgovic, Sanchez, and the Path to Contention
With Dubois’s path to the IBF title, and subsequent loss, the IBF’s mandatory challenger position became a focal point. The original article correctly identified Filip Hrgovic and Frank Sanchez as being in line for an eliminator. However, the exact events unfolded differently. Filip Hrgovic had indeed faced Daniel Dubois, but it was on June 1, 2024, for the interim IBF heavyweight title, a fight Hrgovic lost by eighth-round technical knockout due to cuts. This was Hrgovic’s first professional defeat. After this setback, Hrgovic bounced back with wins over Mark De Mori (December 2023) and Demsey McKean (August 2023). Crucially, Hrgovic later faced Joe Joyce on April 5, 2025, winning by unanimous decision, a fight that the original article incorrectly stated had already occurred and that Hrgovic had won after losing to Dubois.
Frank Sanchez, meanwhile, suffered his first professional loss on May 18, 2024, when he was stopped by Agit Kabayel via seventh-round knockout in a WBC eliminator in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This loss occurred after the original article’s publication date. Sanchez did score a knockout win in February 2025, defeating Ramon Olivas Echeverria by third-round TKO on February 21, 2025, which might have been the “knockout in February” alluded to in the original article, though the Kabayel loss preceded it.
The IBF did indeed order a final eliminator between Filip Hrgovic and Frank Sanchez to determine the mandatory challenger for the IBF title, which at that point was held by Daniel Dubois. However, this highly anticipated clash did not come to fruition. The purse bid for the Hrgovic-Sanchez eliminator, scheduled for May 15, 2025, was ultimately canceled as Hrgovic instead committed to a fight against David Adeleye on August 16, 2025. As a result, Frank Sanchez was later ordered to face Richard Torrez Jr. in a new IBF eliminator, scheduled for May 23, 2026, in Egypt.
Given the rapid developments in the heavyweight division and the IBF’s clear path for new mandatory challengers, Chisora’s world title dreams have indeed slipped out of reach. While he had a strong run of victories leading into 2025, the IBF’s decision to order eliminators between other contenders, and the subsequent outcomes, meant his mandatory status was superseded. Chisora’s 50th and final professional fight against Deontay Wilder in April 2026 marked the conclusion of a remarkable career, one that saw him consistently challenge top heavyweights and entertain fans with his “War” moniker. While a world title eluded him, his longevity and willingness to face all comers cemented his legacy in the sport.
