Deontay Wilder vs. Derek Chisora Judges' Scorecards, Punch Stats and Prize Money

Deontay Wilder went into hostile territory on Saturday and picked up a pivotal split-decision win over Derek Chisora in heavyweight action at the O2 Arena in London, England.

The fight got off to a chaotic start with Chisora's cornerman rushing into the ring to break up the two fighters. Both fighters came out throwing wild punches looking for an early finish. 

Chisora continued winging hooks at Wilder's body, while The Bronze Bomber started to find some success with uppercuts. 

The two veterans really started showing their age in the third round. There were fewer exchanges and a lot more grappling as Chisora forced Wilder to carry his weight. 

Chisora's strategy paid off in the fourth round. He came alive and landed some serious shots to the head in his best round of the early going.

Chisora hit the mat twice in the fifth round, but it was due to Wilder pushing his opponent. 

Wilder turned the tide a bit in the sixth round. He cut open Chisora's eye and outboxed his opponent, finding some rhythm behind his jab. 

That work paid off in the eighth when Wilder's power punches added up and he knocked Chisora through the ropes. Chisora beat the count, but Wilder had a point taken away.

By the 10th, the fight devolved back into two gassed heavyweights swinging for the fences. There were wildly fun exchanges throughout, but neither man would go down. 

The madness continued in the championship rounds with Chisora going between the ropes and Wilder slipping to the mat with neither being ruled a knockdown in the 11th.

The win is huge for the 40-year-old's hopes of remaining relevant in the heavyweight division. The Bronx Bomber has had a tough run since 2020. Back-to-back losses to Tyson Fury were compounded by losses to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang.

The former heavyweight champion has been trying to get back since. A knockout win over Tyrrell Herndon set up the matchup with Chisora.

His 42-year-old opponent vowed that this was his final fight regardless of the result, but he was on a pretty good run. Wins over Gerald Washington, Joe Joyce and Otto Wallin gave him the prime opportunity to end with a bout against Wilder.

The victor, on the other hand, doesn't have retirement on the brain just yet. He's determined to get back into the title picture.

"It's important for me to go out and do what I need to do. It's important because the heavyweight division needs me. I brought it back once before and I'll bring it back again," he told ESPN ahead of the fight.

This win should buy Wilder at least one more big fight if he wants it. A bout against Oleksandr Usyk would obviously be the best-case scenario, but Anthony Joshua is also a name that would have to be considered.

The prize money for this bout was undisclosed, but it's safe to say that Wilder earned himself at least one more big payday.