- Derek Chisora enters fight week ahead of his farewell bout against Deontay Wilder at The O2 on April 4 — his 50th professional fight, live on DAZN PPV
- Chisora welcomes a Fury vs Joshua fight and predicts Joshua wins in four or five rounds
- On Moses Itauma, Chisora urges patience — says the 20-year-old should win a British title, Commonwealth and European before chasing world honours
- Chisora also warns Itauma to avoid one specific heavyweight, suggesting Usyk would "smoke" the youngster at this stage of his career
Derek Chisora has never been short of opinions. That has been one of the great joys of his career — a fighter who says exactly what he thinks, when he thinks it, regardless of who is listening. In fight week, with his retirement fight against Deontay Wilder three days away, nothing has changed.
Chisora has used his media obligations this week to hold court on the heavyweight division he has called home for nearly two decades. And his views, as always, are worth hearing.
On Fury vs Joshua
The fight the British public has wanted for the best part of a decade finally looks like it could happen this summer, with Fury's three-fight plan placing Joshua as the second opponent after the Makhmudov comeback on April 11. Chisora is all for it.
His prediction is bold. He sees Anthony Joshua winning inside four or five rounds — a knockout victory that would silence the critics who have questioned whether AJ still has it at the highest level after the tragedy that disrupted his career last year.
It is a controversial take. Many pundits favour Fury's boxing ability and ring IQ. But Chisora has been in with both men. He knows what they bring. And his read on Joshua's power and timing should not be dismissed lightly.
On Moses Itauma
Chisora's comments on Moses Itauma were the most interesting of fight week. While much of the boxing world is racing to get the 20-year-old into a world title fight as quickly as possible, Chisora is pumping the brakes.
His advice is simple and sensible. Let the kid enjoy boxing. Let him win a British title. A Commonwealth title. A European title. Let him accumulate rounds, experience different styles, and learn his craft in fights where the stakes are high but not career-defining.
Chisora also issued a specific warning: stay away from Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian would be too much for Itauma at this stage, Chisora believes. The speed, the angles, the IQ — Usyk would take the young man apart before he was ready for that level.
It is the kind of advice that only comes from experience. Chisora has been in the ring with everyone from Vitali Klitschko to Tyson Fury to Oleksandr Usyk himself. He knows what a world-class heavyweight can do to a young fighter who is thrown in too deep too soon. His caution is born from scars earned over 49 professional fights.
Three Days to Go
But first, Chisora has his own business to attend to. Wilder at The O2 on Friday night. Both men's 50th professional bout. Chisora's farewell. The atmosphere in south-east London will be electric — the kind of send-off that a career like his deserves.
Fight week has also had its share of drama. Chisora clashed with Piers Morgan during a television interview, while Wilder shut down questions about Tyson Fury, insisting the focus should be on the fight at hand. The tension is building. The old guard of heavyweight boxing is saying goodbye — and doing it in style.
Three days. The O2. DAZN PPV. One last war for Del Boy.