Derek Chisora, jokingly or otherwise, has said that he isn’t fighting Tyson Fury next.
It seems that the WBC Champion can’t find anybody to fight. Having seen very public, and initially promising, negotiations with Anthony Joshua fall through, Fury stated that he would face unranked Mahmoud Charr.
Whether it was the public backlash from fans and pundits, a change of mind from the champion, or another disruption in negotiations, that fight doesn’t seem to be happening. Next in line for the voluntary defence in the UK was Derek Chisora.
A fight between the two would be the third we’ve seen, with Fury taking two victories earlier in both mens’ careers. Still, two British fighters on home soil would be an easier sell. The last we heard, it was close to an announcement.
In an interview with IFLTV, ‘WAR’ Chisora reset the status of Fury’s opponent to unknown by claiming that he hasn’t been sent a contract.
“No I’m not. I’m serious. I’m not. I’m not.”
It’s rumours. It’s like someone says he’s been cheating on his wife. Is he cheating on his wife? No it’s a rumour, bro … I haven’t been sent nothing. Nothing.
I don’t know [if I want it].”
Given ‘Del Boy’s tendency to surprise us all, it’s understandable if some fans take this announcement as mind games or a bit of public negotiation. In fact, alongside Fury, he’s one of the hardest men in the game to predict – meaning that we could be in for plenty more interviews like this from both.
Having said that, the fight hasn’t been announced and, if we’ve learned anything from recent heavyweight negotiations, fights aren’t guaranteed until the fighters are in the ring.
With December 3 creeping ever closer, ‘The Gypsy King’ needs a dance partner announced desperately.