Derek Chisora gets first win in THREE YEARS in brutal slugfest against Kubrat Pulev with narrow split decision at O2

DEREK CHISORA got his first win in THREE YEARS against Kubrat Pulev to keep his incredible career rolling on.

The 38-year-old - nicknamed War - went into the rematch of his 2016 loss to the 41-year-old Bulgarian on the back of three defeats that led to some fans wishing he would retire.

But he bludgeoned and bulldozed his way to a majority decision win - with his two little daughters at ringside - to get revenge on 'The Cobra'.

The three ringside judges scored it: 116-112 Pulev, 116-112 Chisora and 116-114 Chisora.

Chisora, who called out Deontay Wilder after the win, said: "I think I last won a fight three years ago… it was hard. Pulev's a great fighter, it was very difficult.

"I'm happy today but at the same time I'm sad. I don't have many left in me but what I do have I will give my all to you guys.

"I don't have many left, so my next couple of fights… I'm on my way out.

"I don't want no easy fights, I want the hard fights. I told Eddie Hearn the other day, if he can get me the Bronze Bomber I'll be happy.

"I want to fight everbody in my era. Win or lose, I just want to fight.

"I needed a win, I've lost so many fights on the road. What a great way to win it, I'm buzzing right now, you don't understand. It feels great to be a winner."

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Inside just 30 seconds referee Marcus McDonnell had to warn both violent veterans three times over roughhouse tactics.

Chisora tanned Pulev’s ribs with a couple of slashed hooks and scored with a pair of jabs.

And, just before the bell, McDonnell had to duck when Pulev launched a haymaker that Chisora dodged and almost knocked the Twickenham official spark out.

Chisora kept slashing at the Cobra’s long body in the second but the Bulgarian absorbed the blows and leaned over and held the shorter slugger at every opportunity.

Pulev’s long straight shots in the third kept finding the fan favourite’s skull and shaggy beard, that is turning orange instead of silver in the twilight of Chisora’s career.

A couple of rugged rounds slipped by before the seventh got the North London arena rocking, when Chisora landed three looping right hands that slashed a gash into the corner of Pulev’s left eye.

But Del Boy was rocked badly in the eighth when he ducked down onto a right uppercut that shook his senses.

Round nine was a cracker as both brave giants vowed to grow old disgracefully, swapping vicious shots and never wavering.

A second oozing wound opened up on Pulev’s grizzled face in the tenth and he spat a cloud of his blood into the air for added gore and drama. The greedy pair even exchanged an extra blow apiece just after the bell went.

And the age-defying pair kept punching lumps of flesh out of each other until the final bed saved them both from their own pride and resilience.