Dereck Chisora is ready to “bring the heat” to Oleksandr Usyk when the pair finally meet in October, according to promoter David Haye.
Haye says a final date and venue for the pay-per-view bout will not be confirmed for a few weeks yet, with legislation and protocol around crowds inside arenas constantly evolving as boxing slowly emerges from the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Last week Chisora (32-9) said he would not be fighting the unbeaten former cruiserweight king Usyk (17-0) behind closed doors. And Haye confirmed that stance when speaking to IFL TV this week.
“Dereck is a creature of habit – he thrives on the fans you know, the more fans that are there for him, the harder he’ll fight.
“Just go to any of his last few fights, Dillian Whyte fight, the Price fight, when he feels the vibe, he produces the goods.
“Dereck fighting in an empty studio somewhere or a garden, I’m not sure – if he had to to do it then you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. But hopefully things are starting to move. Eddie’s (Hearn) got these shows in his back garden – that’s fantastic. You’ve got Frank (Warren) doing some fantastic stuff – BT behind closed doors.
“As long as the fighters are getting in there, you know, and applying their trade and getting off that ring rust from this big gap that we’ve had. The young fighters need to be active – sitting on the sidelines for a year does nobody’s – if you broke your leg or something that’s one thing but when you’re fully fit and ready to go – sitting at home watching Netflix is not going to help.
“All the gyms were closed, there was very little you could do to keep yourself in tip-top shape, so the sooner we can get things back to normality the better.”
Top-level heavyweight boxing returns next month of course when WBC mandatory contender Dillian Whyte (27-1) puts that status on the line against former WBA heavyweight king Alexander Povetkin (35-2-1) at Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Fight Camp. And Haye says that date does have an impact on when Chisora and Usyk can meet.
He explained: “Dereck Chisora you know we’re looking at probably October realistically. You’ve got Povetkin and Dillian Whyte, that’s a real mouthwatering affair, 22nd of August in Eddie’s back garden. I’d watch that anywhere, that’s a great, great fight. Two very very tough individuals who both come to win. It’s gonna be a great fight.
“That’s a pay-per-view fight, Dereck’s gonna be pay-per-view, so you probably need ideally six weeks between the two. So you are looking at sort of early to mid-October, fingers crossed. But the way things have progressed and the way things are moving, unless there’s something crazy second wave or something where everything goes backwards a couple of months, I envisage an October showdown with Usyk.”
Usyk has had only one fight at heavyweight so far after moving up from cruiser, and is already the WBO’s mandatory contender for the belt currently held by Anthony Joshua (23-1). Haye says the brilliant Ukrainian is in for a proper baptism of fire at the highest and heaviest level when he gets inside the ropes with ‘War’ Chisora.
“Very few experts give Dereck a chance in hell – you know he’s lost nine professional contests – people say ‘how do you get him to beat him?’. You’ll see on the night. What he brings to the table when he comes out. He’s not coming out to make up the numbers, to pick up a pay cheque. He’s coming to bring the heat.
“Usyk’s gonna be in a position he’s never been in before – that’s a real heavyweight coming at him in a 12-round fight.”
