Dereck Chisora suffered a fifth round stoppage in his pulsating grudge match against David Haye at West Ham United.

But the Finchley boxer got back on his feet and hugged his opponent in defeat as the rivalry between the fighters was replaced by mutual respect.

'Del Boy' Chisora was booed into the ring by a packed crowd of about 30,000 fans.

The fans were not put off by the heavy rain which started just prior to the fight and there was an electrifying atmosphere as the popular Haye entered the ring.

Haye's superior speed and skill told in the opening two rounds as he took control.

But Chisora enjoyed his best spell in the third round which ended in controversy as he rocked Haye with a left punch after the bell had sounded.

Haye had chances in the fourth round as pushed Chisora onto the ropes but he failed to press home his advantage.

However the real drama was to come as a devastating combination of punches floored Chisora for the first time in his professional career.

The 28-year-old got back up on his feet but left himself open and five more brutal shots from Haye knocked him down again.

Referee Luis Pabon had seen enough and the fight was over in the final second of the fifth round.

The two fighters, whose feud was instigated by a press conference brawl in Germany at the start of the year, came together at the end in a show of respect towards each other.

For Haye, a title shot against Vitali Klitschko looks on the cards.

But for Chisora, who suffered a fourth defeat in the last five bouts, sights will surely be lowered after the first stoppage of his career.