Dereck Chisora: What’s Next?

Dereck Chisora: What’s Next?

By James Hailston

As he marched towards the ring at a packed, noisy O2 arena on Saturday night, Dereck ‘WAR’ Chisora knew that a win was all he could afford if he was to continue fighting on bills of a similar ilk.

Waiting in the opposite corner was Pole Artur Szpilka. Opinions were fairly split as to who would win though the bookies slightly favoured Chisora. Some felt Szpilka’s height and reach advantage as well as his southpaw stance – something Chisora’s trainer Dave Coldwell had admitted concerned him – would cause the Finchley man problems.

For the Chisora supporters it was the usual mystery surrounding him that has been a constant in his unpredictable yet entertaining career. Which Chisora would we get? The energetic, high tempo, up for it version or the slow, ponderous, somewhat ‘don’t want to be here’ one. They needn’t have worried.

The 1st round there was little to choose from. Both tried to assert the centre of the ring, Szpilka started there but Chisora had taken his spot come the end of the round. But there was little to talk about in terms of big shots landed. That wouldn’t last long though.

Chisora came out in the 2nd up on his toes. Whilst it’s hard to call a man weighing around the 250lb mark fluent he certainly had a looser, more balanced look about him. Despite nearly reverting to type a couple of times with wild swings, to his and his relatively new trainers credit he stuck to the task in hand. Carrying his left slightly further from his chin than normal, he used it to nullify Szpilka’s lead hand even throwing a few feints to keep his Polish opponent guessing. Then came the finish.

A feint to the body followed by a right hand forced Szpilka’s back to the ropes. A further body shot with his left brought the taller mans arms down and with that Chisora unloaded an absolute corker of a right hand upstairs to leave Szpilka out on his feet and himself very much relevant in the current heavyweight scene. He went back in with a couple more body shots then another big right before the referee jumped in to halt proceedings but the damage had already been done.

It will be interesting to see where Chisora goes from here. His recent form doesn’t warrant a seat at the top table of the heavyweights he has certainly kept his name in the hat for some big fights. Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce would be fun and are big domestic fights but may be too high risk low reward right now. David Price would also generate big interest domestically and may fit the bill after his win over Dave Allen.

Russia’s Alexander Povetkin is another name I’m sure Chisora would take an interest in. However, I think it’s the man he called out in the immediate aftermath of his latest victory that would be his best option, Joseph Parker.

Being the only man to have beaten AJ conquerer Andy Ruiz Jr and also being one half of two PPV’s headlines in the UK already he’d attract interest on these shores for sure.

He’s a former world champion too and victory over him would put Chisora as close to a world title shot as he’s been in years. He’d start as the underdog but would definitely feel at his best it’s a winnable fight. I think Parker would fancy it too as a way of keeping himself relevant, not just in the UK but also the world title picture.

Whichever path Chisora ends up going down, as always is the case with him it’s sure to be fun, unpredictable and exciting.