Derek Chisora has gone through his usual ritual of confusing statements, threats, and pre-fight friendship as he prepares for Joe Joyce this weekend.
‘WAR’ battles his fellow British heavyweight on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in a clash that hasn’t begun to set the boxing world alight in the UK. The main event features two boxers who should both consider retirement, one far more than the other.
Chisora has been beaten black and blue over the past ten years without really making a dent at the top of the heavyweight scene. His odd victories only set up more significant fights that ultimately failed.
The beatings handed to the man formerly known as ‘Del Boy’ by Tyson Fury [twice, the last of which never should have been allowed to happen], Dillian Whyte and Joseph Parker were sickening enough to end anyone’s career.
However, Chisora refuses to quit. And despite his on-off promises to retire after his encounter with Joyce, few people believe it. The sad truth is Derek’s behavior is getting more worrying the more he fights, none more so than at the face-to-face with Joyce earlier this week. Wanting to spend time with an opponent after a fight is a strange request, especially when you have yet to trade blows.
That usually happens when the dust has settled, and there’s a renewed respect between the two combatants. To Joyce’s credit, he’s tried to stay focused in the face of Chisora’s odd ramblings.
They will finally swap leather tomorrow, but there’s a repetition expected to occur in London that many of us have seen before. Chisora will try to be competitive and may even last the distance with Joyce, but he will likely get beaten up for the duration.
The good things about Chisora as a fighter are also his downfall, as the Finchley man has zero quit. He will keep coming no matter how bad things get and seems to be allowed to continue without intervention at the notion of a potential haymaker changing the tide. This occurrence has rarely happened for Chisora in lengthy fights and probably won’t happen against Joyce unless ‘The Juggernaut’ has a considerable off night.
Derek Chisora is on another hiding to nothing and should be stopped from fighting anyone in the top fifteen for his own good. If Chisora is serious about going out with a victory and will one hundred percent walk away without retraction, the former world title challenger should be handed a winnable fight after all the beatings he’s taken.
If anyone deserves it, Derek does. Saturday night’s viewing may require fingers to watch through.
The views expressed in this article are the opinions of Phil Jay. Learn more, read all articles from the experienced boxing writer, and follow on Twitter @PhilJWBN.
