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Dereck Chisora’s confidence is just as high as when he was supposed to fight Joseph Parker in October 2019.
Chisora has since suffered his 10th professional loss – a 12-round, unanimous-decision defeat to Oleksandr Usyk on October 31 at Wembley Arena in London. He is 37 years old, too, but Chisora recognizes that he can rejuvenate his career by upsetting the former WBO heavyweight champion May 1 at a site to be announced.
“I’m gonna take him to the deep end,” Chisora told Sky Sports. “We’re gonna fight. I’m gonna bring the war. I’m gonna bring war and pain. That’s it.”
New Zealand’s Parker is fresh off defeating countryman Junior Fa by unanimous decision in their 12-rounder February 27 at Spark Arena in Auckland. The 29-year-old Parker (28-2, 21 KOs) has lost only a pair of unanimous decisions to Anthony Joshua, the IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO champion, and Dillian Whyte in back-to-back 12-rounders in 2018.
“We’re gonna make it three [losses for Parker],” Chisora said. “Yeah, we’re gonna go for it. … He’s got fast hands. He’s got fast hands, but I’ve got a new trainer coming in this week, so we’re excited about that.”
Chisora (32-10, 23 KOs) wouldn’t reveal the identity of his new trainer, who apparently will replace Steve Broughton. Parker parted ways with his longtime trainer, Kevin Barry, as well after he defeated Fa (19-1, 10 KOs) and hired former WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee to work with him.
London’s Chisora could move toward the top of the WBO’s rankings by beating Parker in the 12-round main event of a Sky Sports Box Office pay-per-view show. Parker is the WBO’s third-ranked challenger for one of Joshua’s titles, 12 spots atop the 15th-ranked Chisora.
“I feel great, man,” Chisora said. “I feel nice. I’m 37, but it’s nothing but a number, age. So, I’m just happy right now.”
Parker pulled out of his fight with Chisora a year-and-a-half ago after suffering a spider bite that prevented him from training properly in Las Vegas. Chisora knocked out England’s David Price (25-7, 20 KOs), Parker’s replacement, in the fourth round at O2 Arena in London.
Parker-Chisora will headline a pay-per-view show that’ll also feature Dmitry Bivol, Chris Eubank Jr. and Katie Taylor.
Russia’s Bivol (17-0, 11 KOs) will defend his WBA light heavyweight title against England’s Craig Richards (16-1-1, 9 KOs) in a 12-rounder. Eubank (29-2, 22 KOs) is set to face fellow Brit Marcus Morrison (23-3, 16 KOs) in a 10-round bout.
Ireland’s Taylor (17-0, 6 KOs), the undisputed women’s lightweight champion, will defend her IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO belts against England’s Natasha Jonas (9-1-1, 7 KOs) in a 10-rounder.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.