The return of former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is no longer speculative. It became official on Friday, with Wilder set to face longtime contender Derek Chisora on April 4 at the O2 Arena.
A few years ago, this would have been treated as a routine assignment for Wilder. That version of him no longer exists. Wilder enters the fight having lost four of his last six outings, and the erosion has been visible.
The timing, the balance, and the confidence that once turned small openings into sudden knockouts have faded. At 40, he is no longer operating from a position of dominance, and this fight is being made because the risk now cuts both ways.
Chisora, 42, arrives from the opposite direction. His recent run has been built on activity and resistance rather than reputation. Wins over Joe Joyce, Gerald Washington, Otto Wallin, and Kubrat Pulev have kept him relevant in a division short on dependable heavyweights.
At this late stage of his career, Chisora isn’t chasing titles. It’s too late for that. Delboy is chasing fights that still ask something of him, and Wilder qualifies.
The bout will headline the first show promoted by MF Pro, with global broadcast on DAZN. Promotional language leaned heavily on nostalgia, but the reality is more current than that. This is not about revisiting the past. It is about testing how much is left.
Wilder’s record still carries knockout weight, and Chisora has never been shy about physical exchanges. That combination makes the fight marketable. It does not make it safe for either man.
The honest read is simple. Wilder is no longer fighting to intimidate the division. He is fighting to find out whether he still belongs in it.
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Last Updated on 01/30/2026
