Tag Archives: Dereck Chisora

Posted on 10/31/2020

By: Hans Themistode

The build up was both long and hilarious, but in just a few more hours heavyweight contenders Oleksandr Usyk and Dereck Chisora will finally enter the ring.

For years now, Usyk, 33, danced circles around his opponents in the Cruiserweight division. With every single world title wrapped around his waist, the Ukrainian product made the move to the heavyweight division. Yet, after battling various injuries, Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs) has fought only once at his new weight class. A matchup with the relatively unknown Chazz Witherspoon.

Many, including former Cruiserweight and Heavyweight titlist David Haye were left unimpressed. With that being said, the 33 year old will look to put everyone on notice when he takes on Chisora in Wembley arena in the United Kingdom.

For the majority of their build up, Usyk spent much of it asking Chisora how he was doing on social media. The soon to be 36 year old would playfully respond but while doing so, stayed in the gym working on his craft.

On the line tonight for both contenders isn’t a world title, but rather a near shot at claiming one. At the moment, Usyk currently holds the number one contender spot in the WBO sanctioning body, a title that Anthony Joshua holds. Chisora on the other hand, sits in the eight position, but should he pull off the upset, he’ll see his ranking vault towards the top.

The British products lone shot at a title came eight years ago against then champion Vitali Klitschko. Since then, his results have been somewhat of a mixed bag, winning four or five fights in a row against subpar competition before ultimately losing against the upper echelon of the division including the likes of Tyson Fury, Dillian Whyte and Kubrat Pulev. The latter is challenging Joshua for his heavyweight titles on December 12th.

That pattern has continued as Chisora has come out on the winning end in his last three contests against inferior competition.

In short, Chisora (32-9, 23 KOs) has always seemingly come up short, and with oddsmakers having him as high as an 8-1 underdog, they’re expecting more of the same later on tonight.

The odds however, aren’t something that concerns him. Both he and his promoter David Haye, believe that the betting public has the wrong man favored on the night.

“Chisora will cause one of the biggest upsets in boxing,” explained Haye during their final press conference. “It will be well deserved, he’s worked so hard.”

Posted on 10/27/2020

By: Hans Themistode

Dereck Chisora has made a career out of bad mouthing his opponents and getting into physical confrontations before he steps foot inside of the ring. During a 2012 build up to his heavyweight showdown with David Haye, Chisora got under the skin of his opponent on several occasions. So much so, that Haye landed numerous punches on his man during a heated face off several months before their contests took place.

Fast forward a few years later and Chisora was seen picking up a table and throwing it at the head of his opponent in Dillian Whyte during their press conference.

Yet, when it comes to his matchup with former undisputed Cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk on October 31st, Chisora (32-9, 23 KOs) can’t help but to like him as both a fighter and a person.

“We like the same things,” said Chisora during a recent interview with Sky Sports Boxing. “We both like cars and were both family men so I like him, I’m a big fan. I have a lot of respect for him. He’s an unbelievable fighter man, he’s amazing.”

Much of the two heavyweight contenders build up has been spent smiling and taking pictures with one another, while also calling out each other out in jest. Regardless of the friendly interactions between the two though, Chisora plans on pushing all of that to the side the moment the opening bell rings.

“I’m going to go through this man. The way I’m going to come for him is going to be unbelievable. I am not going to lose that fight, I am going all out.”

A win for the 36 year old British native could see his career long chase to win a world title finally come to an end.

With Usyk currently occupying the number one position in the WBO sanctioning body, team Chisora has petitioned for their man to replace him should he win their contest this Saturday night. Currently, unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua holds the WBO title in his possession as well as the WBA and IBF titles.

While it’s unknown if Chisora would vault up from his number eight ranking to number one with a win, the former title challenger wouldn’t necessarily be interested in taking on Joshua. Instead, he has his eyes set on someone else entirely.

“I think it would be a great fight to have with the Gypsy King Tyson Fury. We speak every day and he owes me that fight. He’s always telling me that he wants to give me that fight. He’s a man of his word, so that is the fight I would like to have.”

After two losses to Fury in 2011 and 2014 respectively, Chisora’s third crack at the WBC/Lineal heavyweight titlist hinges on the performance he puts on this weekend against Usyk.

Fighting for world titles is something he welcomes. So is fighting to give his fans a memorable night of boxing. But more than anything, Chisora wants to make the man in the mirror proud.

“I don’t want to let myself down, nothing else. I want it more than anyone.”

Posted on 09/28/2020

By: Hans Themistode

Most have been waiting to see how former undisputed Cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk will do when he’s matched up against Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua.

Usyk of course, has a legit threat in front of him when he takes on Dereck Chisora on October 31st. But for the most part, many are expecting him to push Usyk, but not necessarily win.

Currently, co-promoter of Chisora and former opponent in David Haye agree’s that on paper, his man doesn’t have a chance. But that’s only on paper.

“If you look at his record and what he has done as an amateur, Olympic gold medalist, undisputed and won every single belt there is to win,” said Haye to Sky Sports Boxing. “He’s done it all. Dereck on the other hand, has lost nine fights. If you look at Dereck’s record against Usyk’s, then it’s like well it’s going to be only one winner.”

Amongst those nine losses were a few head scratching one’s. In late 2017, Chisora came up short via majority decision to the unheralded Agit Kabayel. He also loss to fringe contender Robert Helenius earlier in his career. Pair those losses with several others against the divisions best over the years and it’s safe to say that Chisora has placed himself as a top ten contender, but someone who has failed to get over the hump.

Usyk on the other hand, looked incredible in the Cruiserweight division and looks to be a possible star in his new weight class. Yet, while Haye believes Usyk was able to dance around his opponents in the past, he’ll find the much larger men in the heavyweight division much more difficult to navigate around.

“What Usyk doesn’t understand is that the heavyweight division is very different compared to every other division in boxing. It’s about size and weight. It takes one shot to turn the tide, ask Povetkin.”

Arguably no one in the sport of boxing this year better illustrates just how fast things can change in the ring.

In late August earlier this year, Alexander Povetkin was on the wrong end of a one sided beating at the hands of Dillian Whyte. Povetkin, 41, was dropped twice in the fourth round and appeared to be on his way to a stoppage loss. Then, out of seemingly nowhere, Povetkin landed a left uppercut that turned off Whyte’s light’s way before his head bounced off the canvas.

Going into that contest, Povetkin was a heavy underdog but upset the odds.

Now, Haye is expecting Chisora to do the same.

“He’s going to cause an upset and shock so many people. He knows this is his last chance.”

Posted on 09/24/2020

By: Oliver McManus

It’s not the heavyweight we necessarily needed for Oleksandr Usyk nor is it one from the triangle of talent seemingly at the head of the division: Fury, Joshua and Wilder. Yet Usyk’s confirmed bout with Dereck Chisora could be just the fight the heavyweight division needed to inject some sparks and joviality into a dwindling 2020.

Yesterday (September 23rd) Matchroom Boxing announced that the fight, expected in March and originally penciled in for May, would get the go ahead despite increased restrictions from the British government. Ambitions to have some capacity of a crowd in attendance were put on hold amid a rise in the number of coronavirus cases within the United Kingdom and there were initial concerns the fight might simply fade away.

Eddie Hearn has stuck to his guns, though, and confirmed the contest for October 31st at a venue to be decided and live on Sky Sports Box Office. A proliferation of pay-per-view bouts seems to be a side of the bargain that fans will be expected to stomach for the foreseeable future in return for these ‘high caliber contests’. Whilst the build-up to this fight will certainly be entertaining – it always is when Chisora is involved – question marks remain around the competitiveness of the actual bout.

Chisora has, against all odds and logic, maintained his status as a legitimate banana skin for heavyweights across the globe. Despite suffering nine losses in his career to date, there has been something of a resurgence since a lacklustre showing against Agit Kabayel in November 2017. That defeat to the German seemed to prompt a renewed urgency and Matchroom Boxing has been willing to cash his (no doubt pricey) cheques at frequent intervals for Chisora’s unique blend of salesman tactics and downright brutality in the ring.

To make the old expression more to Dereck Chisora’s liking: he hits like a donkey.

Likewise, there are some doubters surrounding Usyk’s legitimacy as a heavyweight contender though, for my money, he deserves the respect as a cleared-up cruiserweight champion. Of course in his heavyweight debut Chazz Witherspoon, there was a degree of working through the motions from Usyk which has been pounced upon by certain quarters of the boxing community as evidence he’s ‘not cut out’ for the bruising, bustling heavyweight division.

That more relaxed pace against Witherspoon was forgivable for two reasons: not least the fact it was his first fight in nearly a year having suffered a bicep injury. Almost definitely there would have been a desire to test out the resilience of that injury. Equally, it wasn’t too different an approach to the one we saw from Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs) when he boxed Tony Bellew. That was very much the first four rounds of relaxation and allowing the fight to unfold before turning the screw and establishing his dominance when time and opportunity allowed. I don’t read too much into theories that he’s ‘off the pace’ because we’ve seen, first hand, his tactical awareness and ability to pace himself into a contest at the right time.

All the qualities and questions around Usyk and Chisora will no doubt be analysed to death before the pair meet, but the beauty of boxing is those questions will be answered, beyond doubt, on October 31st.

Posted on 05/26/2020

By: Hans Themistode

Heavyweight contender Dereck Chisora isn’t what you would call a skilled fighter. He doesn’t look to out box his opponents. Nor does he attempt to stay on the outside and counter. No, what’s led Chisora to the 32 victories in his career has been brute force and power. 

The former Heavyweight title challenger lumbers forward during his contests and doesn’t mind eating a few shots in order to land a few of his own. Well, as the expression goes, if ain’t broke don’t fix it. And with three straight victories under his belt since a stoppage loss at the hands of Dillian Whyte in 2018, Chisora seems to have found the winning recipe. Now, he hopes to add the biggest win to his resume when he takes on former undisputed Cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Unlike in his Heavyweight debut that came against Chazz Witherspoon in October of 2019, Usyk isn’t anticipating an easy night. In your face pressure is to be expected. But throwing a ton of shots is one thing, hitting the target however, is something else entirely.

“Normally I face this kind of plan, every fight,” Usyk told Sky Sports. “If you want to hit the target, you need to see the target. He can throw as much punches as you can, but you need to land them into the target.”

It’s seldom that a fighter will admit that they are going to be elusive on fight night. Instead, they usually puff out their chest and give off a false bravado of how they are ready to bang it out in the center of the ring. 

Not Usyk though. But even with the former Cruiserweight champ having a seemingly bulletproof game plan, Chisora still has something up his sleeve. 

“I’m going to focus on what I do,” said Chisora during their press conference. “I’m going to focus by going in the ring, and start looking for my man, and that’s it. He’s going to dance around, but we’ve got certain things we’ve been practicing on. Things we’ve been doing every day. It will pay off.”

Even with a Gold medal in his possession from the 2012 Olympics coupled with world titles in the Cruiserweight ranks, Usyk finds himself a bit starstruck. He’s been all around the world and faced countless world champions, but nothing compares to his upcoming fight against Dereck Chisora.

“When I was an amateur, I was watching his fights as a heavyweight, with Klitschko, David Haye, and I was thinking ‘wow’, such great guys somewhere far away. Now I’m going to box one of those great guys myself.”

Both Usyk and Chisora were originally scheduled to trade shots on May 23rd at the O2 Arena. But due to COVID-19, it is now expected to take place sometime in July. 

Posted on 04/23/2020

By: Hans Themistode

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and David Haye currently has someone who is looking to follow in his footsteps. Somewhat. 

From 2007-2009, Haye went from a unified Cruiserweight titlist to the WBA Heavyweight champion of the world. His reign at the Heavyweight division didn’t last long thanks to Wladimir Klitschko, but he had an impressive run nevertheless. Now, one decade later Oleksandr Usyk looks to do the same. 

Usyk, an Olympic gold medalist, will look to jump right into the deep end when he takes on perpetual Heavyweight contender Dereck Chisora. A walk in the park for the man that looked almost unbeatable at the Cruiserweight division, but Haye believes Chisora is about to turn out the best performance of his career.

“He’s ranked in every boxing expert’s top five pound-for-pound fighters,” said Haye to Talk Sports. “He’s an Olympic champion, he’s never ever lost a boxing match before, he was the undisputed cruiserweight champion – he’s the man. The most skilled smaller heavyweight out there. Derek Chisora has lost nine fights. Many people think he’s passed his prime. But believe me he was having a run in training camp like I’ve never seen him before. The sparring, the physical side of things.”

No matter how many times Haye heaps praise in the direction of Chisora, the nine losses on his resume speaks volumes. Matchups against Dillian Whyte, Tyson Fury, Vitali Klitschko and others tell a story of a fighter that has trouble winning the big one. But that was the old undisciplined and lazy Chisora. This new version is a real contender. At least according to Haye.

“Derek is in a good place. The fight date he’s been working towards has been postponed. Usyk is in training and we can see from his social media that he is ticking over in the Ukraine.”

“He’s got on his discipline, he’s eating the right food, he’s sleeping the right times, he’s not doing all of the things he did in the past that culminated in him losing those nine fights. He shouldn’t have lost all of those fights. A lot of the time he wasn’t in the best physical condition, the right mind-set, but he is now. I think Usyk has miscalculated how good Chisora is. He doesn’t realize how strong he is. He’s like a bull, he’s absolutely rock-solid, and he’s still training now.”

As far as when the two could meet in the ring, that is yet to be determined due to COVID-19. But there is a chance that face one another in an empty arena. Whether their contest takes place in front of a packed house or no one at all, a win over Chisora will place him at the head of line in terms of a title shot.

Posted on 03/13/2020

By: Hans Themistode

Dereck Chisora has built a name for himself over the years. 

He’s been known as a brash, loud mouthed Heavyweight contender. For as much as his fans love him, his personality has rubbed just about everyone that he has stepped inside of the ring with the wrong way. 

Calling him a jerk would be somewhat of a compliment as most of his opponents would describe him as an asshole. 

Just take a look at his long history of stirring up controversy. 

Chisora’s 2016, press conference for his first match against Dillian Whyte quickly turned into a WWE contest as he hurled a table right at his opponents head. In 2019, Chisora went back and forth with Regis Prograis regarding who should be headlining the October 26th, show. That doesn’t sound like much of an issue right? Well, when you consider that Chisora outweighs his man by roughly 100 pounds, then you’ll quickly see the problem. 

How about his 2012 contest with David Haye? Most fighters who decide to get into shouting matches with their opponents usually keep their hands to themselves. Yet in this case, both men got the fight going early.

To sum it all up, Chisora has a way of getting under the skin of his opponents. 

So now that he has officially signed up to fight former Cruiserweight contender Oleksandr Usyk at the O2 Arena, Chisora has been surprisingly nice. Maybe a little too nice.

“He’s a funny guy, he loves life, he likes everything,” said Chisora during a recent press conference. “He’s a boy’s boy. He’s cool. I can’t really say anything bad about this man. He’s done so much in four years. He’s done great for himself. He’s amazing, I’m a big fan of his.”

This is pretty new. Chisora has never been known as the sort of fighter to be so complimentary. But after a few minutes went by during the conference, we quickly found out why.

“It’s going to be hard, I’m not going to lie to you. I think this fight will be the hardest fight I’ve ever had. Not because the guy hasn’t got power, but because of the accuracy of his punches and the way he chucks them. When he chucks them he’s unbelievable.”

Vitali Klitschko, David Haye, Kubrat Pulev, Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte are amongst the long list of champions and top tier contenders that have stepped into the ring with Chisora. So what makes the former undisputed Cruiserweight champion different from the rest?

“He’s going to be dancing bro. He’s going to be dancing. Where can you get guys who can be sparring like him? Nowhere. The guy is a dancer. He’s going to dance. I’m already taking dancing lessons. The guy is going to be on fire, man. I’m going to have to eat leather, I’m not going to lie to you. I’m going to eat leather. I’m probably going to take five before I get one in there, but it is what it is. I eat that shit for breakfast. The hunger remains and the dedication is the same.”

Posted on 03/12/2020

By: Hans Themistode

After a not so impressive debut at Heavyweight, Oleksandr Usyk gets a second chance at a first impression against Dereck Chisora. 

It wasn’t that long that Oleksandr Usyk was considered the big man on campus.

In 2018, he took down every single big name in the Cruiserweight division including Mairis Bredis, Murat Gassiev and Tony Bellew. Each of those wins provided him with something different. 

The win over Bredis gifted him with the WBO title to add to his WBC collection. The victory over Gassiev landed him the IBF and WBA belts. His win over Bellew didn’t bring anymore added hardware but it did solidify him as the best in the weight class. No questions asked. 

Fast forward two years later, and the question marks are everywhere. 

2019, saw Usyk move up to the Heavyweight division and fight just once. Chazz Witherspoon was the opponent, and before you use google to search his credentials, just be warned that they aren’t very impressive. 

The win over Witherspoon did very little to convince anyone that Usyk is a true contender in the division. But on May 23rd, at the O2 Arena, in the United Kingdom, Usyk gets his chance to make a statement against Dereck Chisora. 

It seems like Dereck Chisora has been a contender in the Heavyweight division for years now. Wait, that’s because he has been. The former title contender has been in almost every position during his 13 year career. From young prospect, to contender to now, the gatekeeper of the division. 

The nine losses on his resume would tell you that he’s nothing more than a B level fighter. But his three straight wins, including back to back stoppages might say otherwise. 

Chisora is considered old at 36. He’s also considered a step or two below the elite of the division. Simply chalk this one up as another easy win for Usyk right? 

Maybe, but the former Cruiserweight champ doesn’t think so.

“I expect a real test in Chisora – he is strong, tough and resilient,” said Usyk. ”I recall being an amateur and watching his fight with Vitali Klitschko. It seemed so big and far away. Now I am myself taking a fight against Chisora. I am working hard in my training camp to show a spectacular performance on May 23rd. Dear friends, I will see you soon!”

Posted on 05/17/2012

Power Shots: News and Views on the Heavyweight Division

by Johnny Walker

David Price: the next BIG (and we mean BIG) thing?

Those fans of heavyweight boxing in the UK and elsewhere turned off by the current (overblown, in our opinion) controversy regarding the Dereck “Del Boy” Chisora and David Haye matchup will find respite this Saturday night as rising British star David Price (12-0, 10 KOs) goes up against sturdy challenger Sam Sexton (15-2, 6 KOs) in Liverpool, England.

Veteran British fight promoter Frank Maloney-—a rival of the man putting on the Haye-Chisora grudge fight, Frank Warren—has been busy in the lead-up to this scrap for the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles (recently vacated by Tyson Fury when a fight with Price couldn’t be agreed upon), promoting the genial 6’8” tall giant Price as the anti-Chisora/Haye/Fury of UK boxing.

Price tends to avoid trash talk and likes to let his fists speak for him in the ring.

“David and Sam are both gentlemen and will give fans a fight to remember, “ says Maloney.

“There has been no trash talking and whoever wins will be proud to call themselves British and Commonwealth champion.

“[Tyson] Fury tried to lessen the title by refusing to face David. Chisora and Haye have brought bad publicity to the sport.

“Obviously I am backing David to win, but Sam is a very good fighter and been a delight to work with during the build-up.”

Price himself says that the buzz about him at home has grown so deafening that he escaped to the quiet of Germany to train for the Sexton fight.

“I needed to get away because there are a few distractions at home in the city. A lot more people want me to be here, there and everywhere,” says Price.

“It is nice to know you are in demand, but training is the most important thing so I had to get away and focus.

“Just a few different things were getting in the way of my preparations. It has done me the world of good. There was nothing there apart from the hotel and the gym so there was plenty of time to focus.”

While Price impressed many last time out with a first round destruction of rugged John McDermott, one observer who wasn’t moved by the fight was none other than his rival, the ever-opinionated Mr. Fury.

“He’s a bum,” Fury says of Price.

Haye vs Chisora: The People’s Choice

While there has been a lot of moaning from Frank Maloney and others in the boxing business re the Haye versus Chisora grudge feud scheduled for July 14 in London, England, two different polls this week show that the boxing public is massively in favor of the fight taking place. A poll in Boxing News showed 75 percent of respondents in favor of the bout, while another in the Daily Mail had the pro-fight faction at 71 percent.

Franklin Lawrence and Mike Mollo: Big Talk

Closer to home, American heavyweight contender Franklin “Ya Ya” Lawrence takes on Mike Mollo for the vacant NABA heavyweight title this Friday night at the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, Dover, Delaware.

Franklin Lawrence: No Respect For Mollo

Lawrence (17-2-2, 12 KOs), coming off of five straight wins, sounds very confident, if not downright arrogant, as he takes on a man who hasn’t fought since 2010.

“Mike Mollo can’t fight,” Lawrence says flatly. “He just swings wildly.”

“Andrew Golota boxed him and then beat him half to death.

“The guy has no inside game and he is not ready for me. He doesn’t do anything textbook but I will give him credit because he does take a good beating.”

Lawrence is also convinced that the heavyweight titles held by the Brothers Klitschko are soon to be his.

“I will be fighting for the championship within a fight or two. My ratings would be higher except the guys ahead of me are ducking me,” Lawrence contends.

“Once the networks see what I can do, they will know I am a serious challenger for the title.”

Mollo (20-3-1, 12 KO’s), however, is unimpressed by Lawrence’s future plans, which he sees as delusions of grandeur, and says he’ll upset “Ya Ya’s” apple cart with a win on Friday night.

“Not only am I going to win but I will win in spectacular fashion,” Mollo vows.

“I have been putting in the hard work and have been in training camp for ten weeks.

“[Lawrence] beat an out of shape Jason Gavern and Jason Estrada. He has gotten off easy in those fights and if he wants to live off that, then he is fooling himself.

“This fight will get me back in the spotlight and I am not looking to squeak by with a decision.”

If the fight is as heated as the trash talk, this should be a good one.

The Return of Razor Ruddock?

Speaking of delusions of grandeur, you may have heard of the press release making the rounds announcing the return of former contender Donovan “Razor” Ruddock (38-5-1, 29 KOs).

Ruddock joins the ranks of Jameel “Big Time” McCline, Evander Holyfield, James “Lights Out” Toney, and Antonio Tarver, all 40+ aged fighters who are looking for that coveted (and lucrative) shot at one or both of the heavyweight kingpin Klitschko brothers.

“First thing, I want my Canadian Heavyweight title back,” says Ruddock.

“I really respect Neven [Pajkic, current Canadian Heavyweight champion].

“He’s a warrior who carries the title with class and pride. But, sadly for him, he’s wearing the belt that I want.

“Then when Neven is healing up, hopefully he’ll take some comfort in the fact that I’ll be putting Tyson Fury, Chris Arreola, Derrick Chisora, David Haye, Bermane Stiverne, Seth Mitchell, and Tomasz Adamek, on the exact same pudding diet too.

“And after I feast on the appetizers, I’ll dive in for two helpings of Chicken Kiev,” says Ruddock in a reference to the Ukrainian champions.

Power Shots contacted Canadian champion Pajkic regarding Ruddock’s grandiose remarks, and he didn’t seem too impressed with the 48-year-old former contender’s big plans.

“HAHAHAHA,” Pajkic replied via Facebook. “What can I say brother, out here in TO [Toronto] crack is cheap !!!”

Prizefighter Heavyweight Tournament to Feature Kevin Johnson, Albert Sosnowski, Kali Meehan

Another heavyweight who is never lacking in the trash talk department, Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson, is already yapping ahead of the Betfair Prizefighter International Heavyweights tournament set for Wednesday June 20 at York Hall, Bethnal Green in the UK.

Both Johnson and fellow tournament entry Albert Sosnowski have been vanquished already by WBC heavyweight champ Vitali Klitschko, but while most would rate Sosnowski’s effort as a game one, Johnson’s negative performance against the big Ukrainian earned him the sarcastic moniker, “Safety Pin.”

Johnson made a move back toward heavyweight relevance recently when he disposed of Aussie heavyweight contender Alex Leapai, stopping him via a ninth-round TKO.

And that’s all Johnson needed to start talking very big once again.

“I’m ready to put the American heavyweight boxing scene back on the map starting with the Betfair Prizefighter tournament on June 20,” Johnson says.

“Like I tell everybody, I am the best American heavyweight – bar none! If people see me, they will know it. Don’t worry about Seth Mitchell, Chris Arreola or any of those other clowns. Just focus on me and watch me deliver. I’m the best heavyweight in the world that’s not named Klitschko, and after Prizefighter, I’ll take care of that too.”

Power Shots has to wonder: has Kevin Johnson been talking to Razor Ruddock, by any chance?

Posted on 05/12/2012

Power Shots: News and Views on the Heavyweight Division

By Johnny Walker

There has been a tiresome predictability to those moaning the loudest about UK promoter Frank Warren’s ballsy move of matching heavyweights David Haye and Dereck “Del Boy” Chisora for a July 14 London grudge match this week.

Aside from the muttering sports media ninnies who only talk about boxing when they can find something to condemn about it, and the British Boxing Board of Control, whose authority is being undermined by Warren’s move (note that the highly moral BBBoC didn’t stop Mike Tyson from fighting in the UK post Holyfield ear chomp, and more recently had nothing to say about the morality of Floyd Mayweather Jr. fighting in Vegas when he is slated to be jailed), we have also been hearing a lot of carping from the Klitschko camp, specifically K2 manager Bernd Boente and world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.

One supposes that Boente and Wladimir were unhappy with the timing of Warren’s presser last Tuesday announcing Haye versus Chisora, as it conflicted with their own public announcement of Wlad’s rematch with American heavyweight Tony Thompson, and completely overshadowed it.

Two very good, evenly-matched heavyweights with a mega-grudge fighting each other, versus the world heavyweight champ fighting a guy he’s already knocked out, a guy who–while he is a genial, classy person–has done little since the first fight to merit another title shot.

Gee, I wonder why boxing fans are generally far more interested in Haye versus Chisora?

It’s hard to blame Wladimir for wanting a little revenge after Chisora spit water in his face in the ring before the Del Boy-Vitali fight in Munich. So his labeling of Haye versus Chisora as a “freak show” being fought under “freak rules,” while inaccurate, is understandable.

And Wlad’s word carries a lot of weight in Germany, where the ARD television network, spooked by the champ’s criticism of Haye-Chisora, has already pulled coverage of the British grudge match from its schedule.

Bernd Boente, however, is a different matter.

Boente has also been putting the rhetorical boots to the UK heavyweight tilt: “They [Haye and Chisora] both lost to the Klitschkos. They are on the second level. We could [not] care less,” said Boente this week.

But Boente, if one reviews the tape of the Chisora – Haye brawl in Germany, and some of his comments following the brawl, was instrumental in encouraging the two Brits to scrap in the first place.

David Haye appeared at the post-fight presser for Chisora and Vitali to make his case for being the WBC heavyweight champion’s next opponent, but it was Boente who steered the conversation toward a fight between Klitschko victims Haye and Chisora. Boente antagonized Haye with taunts about the toe injury that the former WBA heavyweight champion claimed hampered him against Wladimir, and then encouraged “Del Boy” and Chisora to fight each other.

“David you are out, you can’t talk youself into the fight, you have no belt,” said Boente.

“Fight against this person [points to Chisora], he showed heart, contrary to you. You showed your toe.”

Bernd Boente tells David Haye to fight Dereck Chisora

After that verbal cue from Boente, Chisora started in on Haye, calling him an “embarrassment,” and things escalated from there into the now infamous confrontation where Haye clocked Chisora in the chin and knocked him down.

After the brawl, Boente went so far as to promise a title shot versus one of the Klitschkos to the winner of a “box–off” between Haye and Chisora.

“The brawl tonight calls for a box-off between Haye and Chisora, and the winner fights one of the Klitschkos,” Boente said at the time.

“[That fight] would make a lot of money in the UK.”

So all that has now happened is that Frank Warren has indeed followed up on Boente’s strong suggestion by making Haye versus Chisora happen in the UK.

For Boente, who had so much to do with starting this whole affair in the first place, who basically pushed Haye and Chisora together and told them to scrap while holding the carrot of a Klitschko title fight in front of their noses, to now turn around and act as if he’s disinterested in and even offended by these “second level” heavyweights fighting each other, is laughable.

Does anyone really believe that the winner of Haye versus Chisora—if the fight does actually happen– is not going to get another shot at a Klitschko brother?

Especially when even a far lesser known fighter like Tony Thompson is getting a rematch?

Especially given the enormous interest in the Brit grudge match, with 20,000 tickets sold in just two days?

The Klitschkos have been classy heavyweight champions, but the posturing of Wlad and his manager this week thus strikes a false, hypocritical note.

Posted on 05/10/2012

By Johnny Walker

Former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye of the UK has nixed the idea of a face to face stare-down with his countryman and challenger Dereck “Del Boy” Chisora at the weigh-in for their fight on July 14 in London.

Haye feels that if he were to face off with Chisora at the weigh-in, “Del Boy” would try to do something along the lines of his hard slap to WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko’s face before their fight in Munich.

Chisora went on to spit water in Wladimir Klitschko’s face and then brawl with Haye at the post-fight press conference, where Haye had gone to try and convince Vitali Klitschko to fight him.

Haye and Chisora were separated by a seven foot high steel fence at the initial presser for their upcoming bout.

“The head-to-head weigh-in is off the cards,” says Haye.

“It’s not happening because it will kick off. At no stage do I want to be in this guy’s personal space because we have done that before and it didn’t end up nicely. If there wasn’t a fence there [at the presser], I know for a fact that he would have tried to do something.”

Haye feels that Chisora is truly a deranged individual.

“I truly believe he has a screw loose, a few screws loose actually,” says the former champ.

“Dereck does some really strange things.”

“I have seen him get hold of a guy and kiss him, I have seen him push another guy in the face at the weigh-in and look at his criminal record – bashing up his missus, assaulting police officers, carrying offensive weapons….”

Haye was not reassured by what he heard through the fence from Chisora at the presser, either.

“He’s just the most bizarre person,” says Haye.

“He was talking mad things through the fence. He was asking where I got my suit from, what I am doing on Sunday.

“The guy is mental. He’s gone in the head.”

Posted on 05/10/2012

By Johnny Walker

Without hype, something terrible happens – nothing!

BoxNation promoter Frank Warren’s contention that he is giving the boxing public the fight it wants to see was strengthened today by the news that the upcoming heavyweight contest between former WBA world heavyweight champion David Haye and Dereck Chisora, slated for July 14 at the West Ham soccer stadium in London, England, has sold out half of its available seating in a little over a day.

The fight is a grudge battle between two evenly matched, top heavyweights, and in this era where the current champion Klitschko brothers mow down the opposition (including Haye and Chisora) with ease, it seems to have caught the imagination of the boxing public, who just want to see a competitive heavyweight war.

The tickets sales are also proof that, while the sports media may engage in fake outrage and the public in facile moralism, people really are more interested in this fight because of the history behind it: a now blown-of-out-proportion press conference brawl in Germany between Haye and Chisora.

Hype, it seems, works.

“We’ve sold more than 20,000 since they went on sale on Wednesday morning. The capacity is 40,000,” Warren told the BBC today.

“I’m sure there’s more interest than there would have been if there hadn’t been a fracas.”

Buoyed by the numbers, Warren also shrugged off the huffing and puffing of the British Boxing Board of Control, which yesterday issued a statement that threatened all and sundry of dire consequences should the promotion, cheekily titled “Licensed To Thrill” (the BBBoC has refused to license Chisora), go ahead.

“If they think I’m going to just roll over and let that happen then they’re sorely mistaken,” Warren said of the BBBoC’s threats to pull the boxing licenses of anyone involved with the fight.

“It’s not just me, there’s a lot of other license holders involved.

“There’s a lot of undertones with the way the board has operated, not just about Chisora, other things. Hopefully this is the catalyst that is going to bring some changes.”

Posted on 05/08/2012

At today’s press conference in London, heavyweight contender Dereck “Del Boy” Chisora talks about his upcoming fight with David Haye, and why he wants his boxing license back from the British Boxing Board of Control.

Posted on 05/08/2012

by Johnny Walker

In defiance of the professional moralists in the mainstream sports media and their calculated and manufactured outrage, as well as of the ineffectual British Boxing Board of Control, UK heavyweights Dereck “Del Boy” Chisora and former WBA champion David Haye announced today that they would give the boxing public what it wants, and fight each other on July 14 in London, England.

Adding to the tension of the occasion, the presser featured the fighters—who famously scrapped at a post-fight presser in Munich, Germany following Chisora’s loss to WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko—separated by a seven foot high steel fence.

Explaining that he originally intended to come back from a brief retirement to fight one or both of world champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, the always loquacious Haye said that public opinion brought him back against Chisora.

“People kept coming up to me on the street, people who weren’t boxing fans, regular people on the street, saying, ‘Dereck, he’s an idiot, you’ve got to knock him out, you’ve gotta do it,’ Haye explained in his usual animated fashion.

“So I thought, ‘OK then, why not?’

“In my mind I was anticipating fighting Vitali Klitschko in the summer, so … I was gearing up to a fight in the summer anyway. [A fight with Vitali] doesn’t look like it’s happening for awhile, so why not?

“It seems like it’s a no-brainer. I don’t think there’s too many people, who if they were in my position, wouldn’t go through with this fight.

“[Chisora] obviously didn’t learn his lesson in Germany, so I’ve got to do it officially, in front of everybody … I can expose him, officially, and it can be on my record for doing that as well.”

“We’ve heard it all before,” Chisora sneered at Haye.

“David gives all the big talk, all the big talk … you get in the ring and you don’t deliver.

“It’s all big talk anyway, so you know what David, you keep talking. The more you keep talking the more you’re getting me upset. The more you get me upset, the more I jump over this [fence] right now….”

“And get knocked out again, eh?” Haye quipped.

“We already played that game before and you lost.”

“I saw David Haye a couple of weeks ago in London, and guess what he picked up, he picked up a knife,” Chisora continued.

“I was eating a steak,” Haye scoffed.

“There was nothing on the table,” Chisora continued. “He knows I’m a bad man. If you want to have it, we can have it now.”

And these two are just getting started.

Given the history between the two men and the level of animosity still quite evident, Haye versus Chisora promises to be one of the most heavily anticipated heavyweight fights in years, not just in the UK, but world-wide.

Posted on 05/07/2012

By Johnny Walker

The Telegraph reports that feuding UK heavyweights Dereck “Del Boy” Chisora and former WBA champion David Haye will meet in the ring on July 14 at Upton Park, London, home of the West Ham soccer team.

Del Boy and Haye will get it on in the UK

According to the report, the fight, which will be announced at a press conference tomorrow, will be jointly promoted by Frank Warren’s BoxNation and German promotional outfit Sauerland Event.

The fight will go ahead with or without the blessing of the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC), an organization whose entire reason for existing may take a permanent hit if they fail to sanction Haye vs Chisora.

UPDATED….

Promoter Frank Warren tells The Sun that Haye and Chisora have obtained licenses for the fight in Luxembourg.

“Before anyone starts screaming let me point out the Luxembourg boxing association was formed in 1922, seven years before the British Board,” says Warren.

“They have given their approval for the bout and it will go on at Upton Park under their jurisdiction.

“As fully-fledged members of the European Boxing Union, that is what they are entitled to do.

“I never said Dereck shouldn’t be punished, but the Board here withdrew his licence — they did not ban him so he can apply to any boxing board.”

SEE ALSO: David Haye vs Dereck Chisora? BRING IT ON!