Derek Chisora has been biding his time to select his 50th and final opponent.
Long-time heavyweight servant Chisora has maintained that he will bow out after 50 fights and is currently sitting on 49, having beaten Otto Wallin, Gerald Washington and Joe Joyce in his last three to find some late career form.
Over a long career, he has faced a fine list of names, including a trilogy with Tyson Fury, two fights with Dillian Whyte and one with Vitali Klitschko. Who comes next remains to be seen, with Chisora in a good position should Oleksandr Usyk – who beat him in 2020 – vacate the four belts he holds.
Other fighters want that sport, and that now could include cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia.
Speaking to FOX Sports Australia, Opetaia’s manager Mick Francis said Riyadh Season’s Turki Alalshikh and Chisora’s promotoers, Queensberry, are keen.
“We’ve spoken with Turki – he wants Jai at heavyweight now. And if that were to happen, he’d go straight into number three with the IBF.
“There is also an opportunity there to fight Chisora … I’ve spoken with the IBF and said ‘if Jai goes up, where would you put him?’ and they’ve told me he would go straight to number three in their rankings.
“Turki Al-Sheikh also wants to make that fight with Chisora. I’ve spoken with Queensberry too, and they’re interested. Everyone knows that fight would be massive. There would be plenty of interest. Although I’d hate to think how much money Chisora would want, because he’s going to get hurt. He’d be no match for Opetaia. I know Jai would hurt him.”
Two-time IBF champion Opetaia is undefeated and has won 22 of his 28 fights so far by KO, two of which have been over Mairis Briedis and drew the best performances from the Aussie.
He has also stopped the likes of Jack Massey and David Nyika. Last time out in June, he beat Claudio Squeo. Since then has been chasing a fight with unified WBA and WBO champion Gilberto Ramirez with a clear goal to become undisputed, though promoter Eddie Hearn admits that, frustratingly, that may not happen before his charge makes the move to heavyweight. and chases belts up there.
Opetaia has been ordered to defend his belt against mandatory challenger Huseiyn Cinkara next.
