Dereck Chisora will now face the hard-hitting Ondrej Pala on Saturday 30th November at London’s Copper Box Arena.
The Finchley puncher headlines the multi-title show alongside Nathan Cleverly challenging for the Commonwealth Cruiserweight title, plus London stars Frank Buglioni and Bradley Skeete both in title action, live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546).
Chisora’s original opponent, Italian Matteo Modugno, was forced to withdraw from the fight over the weekend because he broke two ribs in sparring.
The 29-year-old European Champion believes that the heavy-handed Pala, who hails from Prague in the Czech Republic, will provide a much harder test than Modugno.
Out of his 32 wins Pala has stopped 22 with only three loses, but Chisora believes he’s in the best form of his career and says he needs to reproduce the same power-packed performance as he did against Edmund Gerber in September.
Chisora said, “It’s a late change as I’ve prepared for Modugno, but I like the look of Pala, I reckon he’ll give me a much better fight than Modugno would have given me,”
“He can definitely bang as his 22 knockouts show and he’ll be looking to do some damage to me. As long as he comes forward and attacks and doesn’t go on the back foot running away then it will be an explosive fight,”
“I’m in the mood to do some destroying on the night and I’ll look to break Pala down methodically just like I took Gerber apart. I broke him up with plenty of rib crunching body shots and I’ll do the same to Pala. One things for sure, I know Modugno wouldn’t have stood a chance with my body shots,”
“I’ve got the hunger and desire back and I’m on the road to the world title in 2014.”
Tickets for the Rock The Box 2 show are priced at £40, £50, £70 and £120 are available from the Eventim Box Office on 0844 249 1000 or at www.eventim.co.uk
Watch live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546). Join at www.boxnation.com