Derek Chisora got a win when he needed it as pulled a split decision out of the fire against Kubrat Pulev in their heavyweight rematch at the O2 Arena, London, which turned out to be the war that was promised.

Pulev was the busier throughout and dominated sections of the fight, but Chisora landed the more eye-catching shots that swayed two of the judges.

But it was another brutally grueling fight for Chisora, who was badly rocked in the eighth round but finished the fight well.

One judge, Yordan Ezekiev, had it 116-112 to Pulev, while Guillermo Perez Pineda had it by the same score to Chisora. Steve Gray had the deciding vote and went to Chisora by 116-114.

Whether this marks the end of Chisora, 38, and Pulev, 41, is still to be seen, but both served up a memorable battle

The pair first met in 2016 in Hamburg when Pulev won a split decision to lift the vacant European heavyweight title.

Chisora seemed so relaxed this time he had intended to come to the O2 arena in the Tube with his family until discovering that the Jubilee line, which serves the venue, was partially closed.

But Chisora tried to force the pace in the first round but was frustrated by Pulev’s holding and referee Marcus McDonnell issued an early warning to both to clean it up. The last 30 seconds saw more action, as Chisora landed a good jab, ate a right hand but finished the round landing a right hook.

Chisora came forward in round two, but Pulev wasn’t going back so there was plenty of mauling, but it was the Bulgarian landing the cleaner punches up close and one clubbing shot to the side of the head knocked Chisora onto his heels.

The third was a hard round for Chisora, who was looking tired already, while Pulev landed repeatedly with both hands. Pulev’s work wasn’t devastating, but it was accurate as Chisora walked forward into trouble.

There was better from Chisora in the fourth, though, as he switched his attack to the body with some success and mostly reduced Pulev to pawing out his jab as Chisora moved better, although the Bulgarian finished the round well.

Pulev dominated the fifth round as he landed hooks and uppercuts repeatedly, upping the power when he went to the body. There were signs Pulev was feeling the pace as well in the sixth and, although he was finding Chisora with the left hook in particular, Chisora was going close with some big overhand punches.

The pattern continued in the seventh, but as Chisora was backed up on the ropes he landed a big right that rocked Pulev. The Bulgarian attacked again, but Chisora landed another, then another, and he was cut and shaking his head as he returned to his corner.

But Pulev regained control in the eighth and near the end of the round he landed a huge uppercut that staggered Chisora back into the ropes. He tried a big right to get himself out of trouble, but Pulev rode it well and landed two more big rights as the round ended.

Hurt early in the ninth round, Chisora came out winging punches and suddenly it was Pulev holding on. When two big shots missed, however, Chisora overbalance into a corner and was caught repeatedly by Pulev, although he tried his luck with hail Mary shots again, Pulev avoided the worst of them.

Pulev was also badly cut over the right eye in the tenth round, where Pulev was also warned for rabbit punching. And while Pulev landed more, Chisora was getting through as he wound up his overhand punches. Pulev landed a big right after the bell, which Chisora retaliated to.

The eleventh was all Pulev, as Chisora took a steady stream of punishment, but the Londoner started the last with plenty of intent landing a good straight right.

Rather than chase Pulev, he then waited for him in his own corner, allowing Pulev to lead off before springing out and landing big hooks to head and then body. At the final bell, Pulev held one arm aloft.

Ron Lewis is a senior writer for BoxingScene. He was Boxing Correspondent for The Times, where he worked from 2001-2019 - covering four Olympic Games and numerous world title fights across the globe. He has written about boxing for a wide variety of publications worldwide since the 1980s.