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Heavyweight contender Derek Chisora has no intention of retiring after suffering a close split decision loss to former WBO world champion Joseph Parker on Saturday night in Manchester.
In his first bout with new head trainer Buddy McGirt, Chisora scored a knockdown in the opening moments of the first round, with a back and forth contest for the entire fight.
In the end, two judges saw it 115-113 and 116-111 for Parker, while Chisora was viewed as the winner by the third judge with a tally of 115-113.
Chisora, 37-years-old, was coming off a close points loss at the hands of former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in October.
Chisora felt he was jobbed of a victory with Parker and fully intends to continue his career.
“I was putting in more power punches, inside work, but I can’t get upset anymore,” Chisora told Sky Sports Box Office.
“But you know what, I won’t let them slow me down. No way. I will not let them slow me down. I will go again. They want to see me retire, but I’m not retiring yet, forget that.
“This [type of outcome] is horrible. I train hard every day, I give everything in the gym, and when I put it all in there, these are the results I get. But Joe said he wants to give me a rematch. If he wants to give me a rematch, I’ll take the rematch easy, but this is unbelievable. I won the fight, even his coach Andy Lee said I won the fight.”
Andy Lee admits their corner was concerned if Parker had done enough to win over the judges.
“After the fight, Joseph Parker came back and said, ‘I’m not sure I’m going to get this. We will give you a rematch. We’ll have to do a rematch straight away,” Lee said.