‘I rate Derek Chisora as high as (Oleksandr) Usyk’
Is Derek Chisora as good as Oleksandr Usyk?
That’s what Tyson Fury, the famous WBC heavyweight title holder, tried to sell during Thursday’s press conference to announce his third fight with Chisora on Dec. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London (ESPN+).
Fury appeared to be headed for a showdown with three-belt champion Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed title or a meeting with Anthony Joshua, but neither was able to fight. So he’ll be relying on an old man – 38 years old – on standby in Chisora.
Usyk, the undisputed former cruiser champion, overtook Joshua in bouts last year and in August.
“Usyk is a tiny heavyweight that won’t do anything against AJ,” Fury said. “…But then he stepped up and beat the big bodybuilder (Joshua) and suddenly he turned into a killer? I do not think so. I rate Derek Chisora as highly as I rate Usyk.”
He continued: “As for me trying to sit here and try to sell Derek Chisora to the fans, I don’t necessarily sell absolutely nothing to anyone. With Chisora, it does exactly what it says on tin: He goes to war. He changed his name from ‘Delboy’ to ‘War’, and we’re going to have a fight. “
Some may roll their eyes at Fury’s comments as Chisora hasn’t had much success over the past few years.
He lost a clear decision to Usyk in 2020 and suffered consecutive defeats to Joseph Parker last year. He came back to narrowly overtake Kubrat Pulev in July. However, he was clearly beyond his peak.
Plus, Fury handled him with ease in their second bout back in 2014, scoring 10order– knockout. He had overtaken Chisora by a wide margin three years earlier.
Early odds have Fury at least 20-1 favorites, which is huge by boxing standards.
However, Fury provided his spin ability.
“I sent him a free letter for the second time,” Fury said. “Chisora’s style has changed and guess what – mine too. I used to be a tip-tap boxer, bouncing around in the ring. Now I am an HMS destroyer.
“When you have two heavy forces colliding, someone gets knocked down.”
Meanwhile, Fury’s co-promoter Frank Warren said he expects a meeting with Usyk for all four major titles to take place early next year.
Fury only has to take care of the business in December.
“Tyson can’t afford to slip in this fight because he has a much-publicized undisputed match against Usyk in the new year, which we’re really looking forward to,” Warren said.
Fury will beat Dillian Whyte in the sixth qualifying round in April. That’s after knocking out Deontay Wilder in 2020 and last year.
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