By James Slater: Heavyweights Wladimir Klistchko and Derek Chisora came face-to-face today at a London press conference to hype their December 11th bout in Germany, and both men had quite a lot to say. As fans know 26-year-old Chisora is challenging the world ruler after having had a mere 14 pro fights (all wins), and nowhere near as much experience as most title challengers.
Despite this, the seemingly always-smiling Zimbabwe-born fighter has been showing amazing calmness, self confidence and belief. Saying today he will “rough up” Klitschko and “take him out of his comfort zone,” Chisora also predicted a KO victory, “between round seven and round eight – my lucky numbers.”
And though there was the odd tense moment at the conference – Wladimir, upon being asked by the challenger, what does he love more, the world titles or his girlfriend, said he will “paint Chisora’s face” in the fight – both men had respect for one another. Wladimir even congratulated Chisora for having the nerve to take the fight when “another fighter” (clearly David Haye) chose instead to fight his “London buddy next month.” (Audley Harrison)
However, Chisora, known as “Del Boy,” did have some negative things to say, not only about Wladimir, but about both Klitschkos.
Claiming the two fighting siblings have made boxing “very boring,” to the point where “no-one talks about boxing anymore,” Chisora promised to beat Wladimir in December and let everyone know once again who the world heavyweight champion is.
“I want it more than him,” Chisora told Sky Sports News. “After I knock him out, when people come out of their house and you ask them who the world champion is, they’ll tell you, Derek Del Boy Chisora. He says he’s gonna paint my face, but you can’t paint something that’s moving, and I move a lot. So I don’t know how he’s gonna paint my face. I know he’s worried about this fight, because it’s not him who chose the fight.
“He’s never boxed anyone like me; I move my head a lot. So he should be worried. He [Wladimir] wants to live the glamour life, I want the titles.”
When asked if the fight had perhaps come too early for him, the reigning British and Commonwealth champ had an answer.
“Mike Tyson won his title when he was 20, he shocked the world,” Chisora said. “I’ll make history too, by winning the title with just 14 fights.”
And Chisora will earn himself a place in the record books if he does as he says and wins on Dec. 11th, by becoming the least experienced fighter from Britain (number of fights-wise) to win the heavyweight championship.
Of course, “Dr Steel Hammer” doesn’t think it’s going to happen, but he has respect for Chisora’s willingness to face him in the ring at least. Wladimir told Steve Bunce that Chisora reminds him a little bit of David Haye. “He’s like a little brother of David Haye,” Wladimir said.
Klitschko is still upset at the way Haye “talked his way into” a fight with him, only to pull out. Will Chisora cause the big upset and forever ruin any chance of a Wladimir Klitschko-Haye collision?