SOUTH LONDONER Dillian Whyte slugged out a unanimous points decision against heavyweight rival Joseph Parker at the North Greenwich Arena on Saturday night. 

Parker, who was a narrow favourite, started well, establishing his jab and whipping in fast combinations, successfully moving and evading the onslaught of the often clumsy Whyte, despite being dropped by a glancing blow in the second.
 
Whyte began to establish himself as the rounds went on, using his weight advantage and rough-house tactics to frustrate and rumble the travelling fighter. 

By the mid rounds, Whyte was fully in control, walking down Parker and landing with decent jabs and body shots.

A breakthrough for Whyte in the ninth saw a vicious counter left hook put the Samoan Kiwi on the deck. Whyte was unable to capitalise and force a stoppage as both fighters looked extremely fatigued. 

Drama ensued in the final round when Parker rallied himself to attempt a stoppage, heavily dropping Whyte, who managed to see out the final seconds to victory through sheer will.

The primary support was another heavyweight contest between veteran hardmen Derek Chisora and Carlos Takam. A fight-of-the-year contender, both men stood and traded from start to finish, with the heavy favourite Takam managing to keep London’s Chisora on the ropes for much of the bout. 

In the eighth round, just as the fight had begun to look one-sided, Chisora shocked the world with right hands knocking the Frenchman out in brutal fashion, a performance most believed the 34-year-old was no longer capable of. 

Katie Taylor defended her IBF and WBA world titles with a blistering third round stoppage of Kimberly Connor. The Irish star’s combination punching is some of the fastest in the sport and proved far too much for her US opponent.