Derek Chisora knows that he’s being given next to no chance of victory when he takes on unbeaten WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury at Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Saturday.
The enigmatic Englishman was drafted in as backup when a short-notice attempt to finally get Fury in the same ring with Anthony Joshua came to nothing. Chisora has also suffered two one-sided losses to Fury, and nothing has happened in the interim to suggest he can prevail this time.
However, while most fans and experts predict a painful evening for the challenger, he’s approaching this fight with the same joviality and thirst for combat that have made him a cult icon in British boxing circles.
“I just like to have fun,” Chisora told BT Sport. “I like to enjoy life. It’s all about enjoying life. I don’t do anything that don’t make me happy. I only do things that makes me happy. If it makes others upset – I don’t care. I just do what I wanna do.
“I’m in the business of entertainment. I’m an entertainer — that’s my job. My job is to give you something to talk about. I’m the clown, I’m the preacher, I’m the entertainer. But I entertain you by getting my brain cells knocked the f– out of me.”
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While a Chisora win would be verging on the miraculous, fans can expect a game effort from the fighter known as “War.” Whether the bout lasts one round or twelve, this challenger will be throwing bombs until the end.
The Sporting News takes a closer look at Derek Chisora’s record, resume, and accomplishments.
Which titles has Derek Chisora won?
Chisora is a former British, Commonwealth and European champion.
Over the past several years, the fiery brawler has also picked up a trio of fringe titles: WBA and WBO international, and WBO inter-continental.
How many knockouts does Derek Chisora have?
Chisora has 23 knockouts in 33 victories for a 70-percent knockout ratio (which is identical to Fury’s).
The challenger has always been known for his punching power, which can be decisive with a single shot or wear opponents down over time.
Chisora’s signature punch is a powerful overhand right.
MORE: Tyson Fury vs. Derek Chisora 3 predictions, best bets
What are Derek Chisora’s best wins?
In May 2010, an unbeaten Chisora broke free of the pack by scoring a brutal second-round knockout of Danny Williams to win the British heavyweight championship.
Following that win, “War” had mixed success at the European and world level, but every time he’s been writtem off, Chisora would bounce back with an eye-catching triumph.
Carlos Takam was heavily favoured to defeat Chisora but fell victim to a brutal eighth-round stoppage in July 2018. And the resurrection narrative continued when the Londoner followed a brutal knockout defeat to Dillian Whyte by halting former world title challenger Artur Szplika in two.
Chisora is coming off a revenge win over Kubrat Pulev (SD 12), which is one of the most impressive results of his career to date.
Tyson Fury vs. Derek Chisora 3: who has the best record?
The 38-year-old Chisora turned professional in February 2007 and has a record of 33-12 (23 KOs). He has contested 304 rounds to date.
Chisora lost a points decision to then-WBC heavyweight champ Vitali Klitschko in February 2012. This opportunity against Fury will be his second world title fight.
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Fury, 34, entered the professional ranks in December 2008. He has a record of 32-0-1 (23 KOs) and has engaged in 210 rounds in his career. Despite a near-three-year layoff, “The Gypsy King” has maintained his dominance and won everything there is to win.
Both fighters have campaigned against some of the best fighters in the division, but it’s Fury’s near-flawless success that separates the two. The only blemish on Fury’s record is a 12-round split decision draw with Wilder, and the general consensus is that should have been a victory.
