Boxing

Bellew, Crolla, Hopkins - How will Derek Chisora's long goodbye match these farewell fights?

DAZN

6, Feb 25

Derek Chisora heads to Manchester's Co-op Live this weekend for a blockbuster battle against Otto Wallin, as the heavyweight looks to celebrate a lengthy career in style.

Del Boy contests his 49th professional fight against the Swede in what is billed as The Last Dance, live on DAZN (excluding the UK), as he bids farewell to his home supporters.

Read more | Derek Chisora vs Otto Wallin: Date, start time, TV channel and live stream

One last bout overseas will reportedly bring the curtain down on the 41-year-old's career later this year - but has he painted a target on his back by announcing his long goodbye?

Here, DAZN News looks at some of the other boxers who announced their farewell fights in advance - and just how it fared for them when they stepped into the ring on the night.

Tony Bellew (vs. Oleksandr Usyk, November 2018)

The popular Liverpudlian, a three-weight contender throughout his career, had surrendered the WBC cruiserweight title in order to face David Haye at heavyweight in 2017.

For what he billed as his last fight in the ring, Bellew sought to topple freshly undisputed cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk in an attempt to end his time on an even greater high.

Sadly, it was not to be. Despite a slow start, the Ukrainian turned up the heat and stopped his foe eight rounds in to defend his crown and send the Briton out on a losing note.

Miguel Cotto (vs. Sadam Ali, December 2017)

Miguel Angel Cotto GettyImages

The Puerto Rican was a four-weight world champion when he announced he would hang up his gloves in one last bout at Madison Square Garden, after a year of inactivity.

The event was pitched as a beloved farewell to one of the classiest fighters of his generation, but on the night, underrated opponent Ali tore up the script instead to deliver a shock.

Cotto reportedly tore his bicep in the seventh round and was outboxed throughout by the other man in the ring, who took a shock unanimous decision to silence the crowd.

Anthony Crolla (vs. Frank Urguiaga, November 2019)

After a loss to Vasiliy Lomachenko for the unified lightweight crown earlier in the year Anthony Crolla admitted that he was nearing the end in the aftermath, but he was determined for one more shot.

It came with a hometown farewell bout against the Spaniard, who offered a tough contest to the Manchester favourite throughout their battle in a back-and-forth contest.

But Crolla became one of a handful of men to get the fairytale ending, as he took a majority decision on points, and with it, the WBA continental lightweight title for his retirement.

Bernard Hopkins (vs. Joe Smith Jr, December 2016)

Bernard Hopkins Golden Boy Promotions

Billed as Final One, The Executioner had not fought for two years when he took this bout, insistent he wanted to offer a proper farewell to his career as a two-weight superstar.

At 51, Hopkins was close to twice the age of his opponent, the WBC International light heavyweight champion, who arrived with a 22-1 record of his own.

In the event, Smith Jr looked in control from the first bell - but the fight was called after a remarkable end, when Hopkins fell between the ropes in the eighth round and out of the ring.

Floyd Mayweather Jr (vs. Andre Berto, September 2015)

There has been no shortage of retirements and walkbacks from Money over the years, but when he took the bout with Andre Berto, it did appear to be his last one for good.

A victory would tie Mayweather with Rocky Marciano at a 49-0 professional record, and he seemed primed to deliver against the WBA interim welterweight champion.

Indeed, Mayweather did, serving up a comfortable performance to score a unanimous decision victory and sail off into the sunset - before, of course, another return.

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