Dereck Chisora Ready to Welcome Oleksandr Usyk to Heavyweight
At the recent formal presser to announce his next bout, heavyweight Dereck “War” Chisora (32-9, 23 KO’s) was a relatively easygoing character. As he sat at the table answering questions, Chisora wore his trademark British flag bandana draped across his nose and mouth. Despite looking like he was ready to stick up a liquor store, War was very composed and even respectful.
NO TOUGH TALK HERE
On May 23, Chisora has signed up to face former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (17-0, 13 KO’s) at the O2 Arena in Greenwich, London. Even though it’s Usyk who is still new to the division, there is no shortage of individuals who view the fleetfooted Ukrainian as the heavy favorite. This crowd feels that Chisora is just enough past his ‘sell by’ date to get the job done with Usyk. Naturally, War would disagree with this sentiment.
Chisora is on a three-fight win-streak since suffering his last loss to Dillian “The Body Snatcher” Whyte (27-1, 18 KO’s) on December 22, 2018. Outside of his beneficial in-ring performances, War has found a good groove in terms of his camps in preparation for fight night. The native of Zimbabwe believes that his heavy hands, experience and being the bigger man will serve him well against the technically proficient Usyk.
“You know what, I just thank Oleksandr for taking this fight, he’s really at the top. He could easily not take this fight, I’m fighting one of the best fighters out there. The guy knows how to box, there is no two ways about it.
“I can’t get sparring partners who know how to box like him. So I decided to go unorthodox for this fight and just chuck whatever I can chuck. So it will be a good fight, I’m pumped about it.”
“The way that we’re training, everything that we’re doing, I just hope I don’t scare him too much to pull out the fight because you’ve [Usyk] got the golden ticket. So I want to take his golden ticket, so basically every angle that I do is for me to take what he has and make it mine.
“I’m ready to go to the other side. I’m ready to die in the ring for this fight so I’m so excited for it!”
MAKE IT MY FIGHT
At times, Chisora has been a bit brash and over the top when at formal press events. The unpredictable man has done everything from trash talk, bogart pressers then walk out, all the way to slapping people and throwing tables. Here on this occasion, War simply gave Usyk his just due.
“The guys has got good foot movement man, I’m not going to lie to you. If I box his way, he’s going to win. He can dance around me 24/7, so I am going to take that away from him. But I know for a fact I just need to land a couple of punches I need to land to settle him down.
“But it’s going to be an exciting fight to be honest with you.”
“Yeah, it’s going to be an uncomfortable place for me too. I’m ready to go down that road to be honest with you, I think if you want to get to the top, you have to sacrifice a lot. Even when you get in the ring, you just have to go with it.
“If you don’t go with and start doubting yourself, that’s not good. But I’m ready to just go in there, under those ropes, just bite the gum-shield and keep plodding and then I know I’ll [prevail] at the end of the day.”
By: Bakari Simpson
