Chisora eyes Parker KO as he insists losing is not even an option
Derek Chisora eyes a KO in his rematch with Joseph Parker, insisting another loss isn’t an option… as the heavyweight reveals he’d like another shot at Fury and rubbishes the idea that Joshua should avoid Usyk
- Derek Chisora is targeting a knockout in his rematch against Joseph Parker
- The pair go head-to-head once more at the Manchester Arena on December 18
- Parker emerged victorious in their first bout in May, winning via a split-decision
- But Chisora says he will take the decision out of the judges’ hands this time
Derek Chisora is approaching his eagerly-anticipated rematch against Joseph Parker with a clear goal in mind: leave the judges out of the equation this time and end the contest with a knockout.
The 37-year-old was left furious by the officials’ decision to award Parker a split-decision victory in their highly competitive affair back in May, despite the Brit scoring a knockdown just seven seconds into the first round.
‘Del Boy’ now has the opportunity to gain revenge as the pair go toe-to-toe once more, again at the Manchester Arena, on December 18, with the veteran heavyweight clearly rejuvenated as he partners up with trainer Dave Coldwell once more.
Coldwell was in Chisora’s corner for his second-round stoppage win over Artur Spilzka in 2019, but the pair split before the initially scheduled match-up against Parker later that year – which was cancelled after the New Zealander was bitten by a spider – due to logistical reasons.
The previously London-based Chisora now spends every Monday to Thursday in Rotherham working under the stewardship of the veteran coach, insisting their partnership is proving fruitful.
Derek Chisora is gunning for a knockout in his rematch against Joseph Parker on December 18
The heavyweight, 37, felt he was robbed as Parker was awarded a split-decision victory in May
‘Training wise it’s been amazing, we’ve got a lot of fighters in there,’ Chisora said during a media call.
‘They always say you don’t finish learning, you learn every day, and if you don’t want to learn every day you’re a fool.
‘I’ve come today to learn more. When I go in the gym, the first day I went back, I told him: “I don’t come with ego or anything, so I will ask you questions like I’m a five-year-old. I’ll go back and back and keep asking you”.
‘He understood that, so training together has been amazing. Everything he wants me to do I’m trying and I’m doing it.’
Chisora is once again working with trainer Dave Coldwell (right) ahead of the Parker fight
Importantly for Chisora, whose performances over the years have tended to fluctuate depending on the significance of the task at hand, the hunger is clearly there.
Of course that’s partially due to the magnitude of the event, but also because he wants the win he feels was rightfully his.
He has openly slammed the British Boxing Board of Control following the first fight in May, insisting he wants an American referee for the rematch, even stating: ‘The only way you win is if Eddie (Hearn) pays the judges and referee for you.’
Yet, while he believes he was robbed last time out, Chisora – who reveals he is sparring significantly younger heavyweights who are trying to ‘take my head off’ – is leaving no stone unturned for the rematch.
Del Boy says he was robbed in May after knocking Parker down seven seconds into the fight
Chisora insists he and Coldwell plan to take the fight out of the judges’ hands this time
‘You’re going to see so many changes, we’re going for a stoppage to be honest with you,’ he said. ‘I know most people wonder why I’ve been talking about the refs, it’s just one of those things.
‘We know exactly what Joseph’s going to try to do. He’s going to try and come in the later rounds and push his power and speed.’
He added: ‘You can tell by how someone is training how they’ll fight. He’s running a lot, so he’s willing to go to the deep end, which is good.’
A win for either fighter would propel them towards a possible mega-fight in 2022, but a loss – particularly a third defeat on the spin for Chisora – would be highly damaging.
Questions would undoubtedly be raised regarding Chisora’s future in the sport. But for the heavyweight the thought of hanging up his gloves hasn’t even crossed his mind – neither has the possibility of losing the bout.
‘There’s always plenty of life. Win or lose, there’s always something else happening. Most fighters say they retire from boxing, but you don’t retire from boxing.
‘You say it and two weeks later you’re in the gym helping other guys to progress. Boxing is a hard game to leave. Even those who do come back. For me, there’s no losing option for this fight to be honest with you.’
Also heading into an all-important rematch is Anthony Joshua, who lost his WBA, WBO and IBF titles to a masterful Oleksandr Usyk in September.
The pair will reignite their rivalry early next year, most likely in the spring, despite the pleas of Tyson Fury’s promoter duo Bob Arum and Frank Warren – and an abundance of pundits and fans – to step aside and take a warm-up fight.
Chisora, who signed with Joshua’s management label, 258 MGT, in September, has slammed such a suggestion, however.
Also heading into a rematch is Anthony Joshua, who will fight Oleksandr Usyk again next year
Asked whether he agreed with the notion that Joshua should step aside, Chisora said: ‘What you’re asking me is nonsense.
‘Do you think he should swerve the fight? Should he not fight again? It’s nonsense. We’re in the fighting game. If you’re a trader in the stock market and you lose about two-and-a-half million, you don’t go home and cry about it, you go back and try to make that money back.
‘So yeah, he should take the rematch. It’s no big deal. You lose a fight and you move on. If he doesn’t take it, where does he go? Who does he fight? Deontay Wilder? Listen, the boxing game right now is only worth money because AJ’s in it, that’s the God’s honest truth.
‘Everyone else makes money because he’s in it. People didn’t make money when Wladamir Klitschko (was champion). People weren’t in love with boxing. Deontay Wilder was WBC champion, people were not really interested.
‘When was the last time we had someone selling 60,000 in an arena? (He) sold out Cardiff, Wembley Tottenham. When was the last time that happened? It’s never happened.
‘The guy’s come in, he’s done an amazing job, him and Eddie and Sky as well. They’ve done this amazing thing, selling these arenas out, giving a great show. Then the day he loses, he shouldn’t take the rematch? He just had a bad day at the office.’
Joshua lost his WBO, WBA and IBF belts at a jam-packed Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
With Joshua activating the contractually-agreed rematch clause, Tyson Fury has been left somewhat short of options following his emphatic trilogy win over Wilder, particularly after the WBC refused order a fight with Dillian Whyte.
Fury previously named Chisora on a five-fight hit list, revealing he’d like to bow out of the sport with a third and final match-up against his fellow countryman.
And with Fury’s team insisting their fighter is still planning to return to the ring early next year, Chisora reveals he’d be willing to step in.
‘Yeah, man,’ he said. ‘I like Tyson Fury, he’s done well for himself. Yeah, why not? If he’s there we’ll do it.’
Of course, he has to get past Joseph Parker on December 18 first, though.
Tyson Fury is without an opponent after his stunning trilogy win over Deontay Wilder
Share this article
Source: Read Full Article