Derek Chisora has had the displeasure of facing Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk a total of four times in the professional ring.
‘Del Boy’ was the second man to welcome Usyk to the heavyweight division after the Ukrainian moved up from cruiserweight. After the former undisputed champion dispatched Chazz Witherspoon, he stepped in with Chisora and battled it out over 12 tough rounds, though the Ukrainian later claimed he was holding back in order to lure in Anthony Joshua into a world championship fight.
His plan worked and he twice defeated Joshua over the distance to lift three of the four major heavyweight titles before defending them against Daniel Dubois and then adding the WBC belt to his collection by beating Fury back in May.
Fury has fought Chisora three times over the last decade, winning two inside the distance and one on the scorecards. Now he is focused on avenging his one and only career loss to Usyk.
Ahead of the rematch on December 21, Chisora has spoken to talkSPORT Boxing about the difference between the two fighters and why Fury lost the first fight.
“When Tyson fights, he fights for himself, when Usyk fights, he fights for his country. I don’t think Tyson was 100% when he stepped into that ring. Maybe ’cause he had a massive cut, he didn’t want to get fined 10 grand for missing the fight, he didn’t spar, he was underprepared for that fight. The confidence was not there. He was mucking around for the first four of five rounds ’cause the confidence was not there.”
He was then asked if he thought Fury could turn it around in the rematch.
“I don’t think so. I think Usyk stops him this time.”
