Derek Chisora and Sam Sexton had to be kept apart and James DeGale and Carl Dilks swapped insults during a lively final press conference yesterday ahead of Saturday’s Magnificent Seven show in Birmingham. As the tension rose before the big Sky Box Office event at the LG Arena, promoter Frank Warren hailed the the show as one of his best ever. Bookmakers have two of the European title fights on the card as even money, while the remaining few tickets are being snapped by eager punters. A double-tiered stage was required on Thursday to accommodate all the fighters in involved in a bill which boasts nine title fights.
Among those in action are Nathan Cleverly, James DeGale, Frankie Gavin, Matt Macklin, Enzo Maccarinelli, Matthew Hall, Kell Brook, Michael Jennings, Sam Sexton and Derek Chisora..
At one point Warren had to separate Sexton and Chisora as the pair first swapped insults, then come ominously together on the top table.
The pair fought two years ago, Chisora winning with a stoppage in a scheduled six rounder.
But both have since moved on to championship level, and Sexton promised a completely different fighter come Saturday night.
“I promise that I am going to knock Chisora out,” said Sexton, as a war of words between the two continued to grow.
Dilks and DeGale were another pair who had plenty to say.
When they fight on Saturday, the chance to box for the British super-middleweight title currently held by Paul Smith will be at stake.
Dilks has insisted for some time that DeGale is over-protected, but such words today were met with scorn by the 2008 Olympic champion.
“Talk is cheap, but this fight will end inside the distance, and it is only me who will win it,” said DeGale.
Remaining tickets for the Magnificent Seven are priced at £40, £50, £80, £150 and £200 and are available from:
LG Arena
0844 338 8000
Ticketmaster
0844 844 0444
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
See Tickets
0871 220 0260
www.seetickets.com