Derek Chisora reveals he will RETIRE after Saturday’s O2 clash with Joe Joyce and insists he will bow out with ‘a 5th round KO victory’ rather than a defeat
- Chisora has announced that Saturday’s clash with Joyce will be his last fight
- Chisora and Joyce will battle it out on Saturday night at their local O2 in London
- He will look to retire with a ‘fifth round knockout’ rather than a defeat
Derek Chisora has announced that his heavyweight clash against Joe Joyce this Saturday at their local O2 in London will be his last fight.
The man who calls himself War insists he will call it a win, loss or draw in his career against the former silver Olympian
The 40-year-old Chisora insists: ‘This will be my farewell dance party. The saddest day of my entire career.’
The boxing community, which has been urging him to retire for some time, hopes he will keep his promise after his 48th fight.
The calls from many, myself included, for Chisora to spare himself further punishment have grown louder since Tyson Fury gave him a big payday in December 2022 and appeared to carry him for ten rounds at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before executing the inevitable stoppage. That was his last chance to win the world heavyweight title he coveted.
Derek Chisora has announced that Saturday’s clash with Joe Joyce will be his last fight
Chisora (right) and Joyce (left) will battle it out on Saturday night at their local O2 in London
Chisora now seems to have the right opportunity and venue to step down. He was in a reflective, sometimes melancholic, sometimes humorous mood when he and Joyce met at a press conference.
He added: ‘We were supposed to fight years ago but it never happened. Now I can go out there for what I expect to be an incredibly great fight at the O2, which I love.’
There was no trace of the aggression that erupted when Chisora headbutted a provocative Deliveroo motorcyclist in the street earlier this week.
Although the police took no action following the altercation, Joyce decided to remind him: “Choose someone your own size.”
Chisora laughed at the thought of beating someone bigger than himself this weekend.
There was no trace of war drums to be heard as they stood face to face for the ritual photo session.
However, Chisora did make it clear that he would rather go out with a ‘fifth-round knockout victory’ than a defeat.
Chisora (pictured fighting Gerald Washington) made it clear he will try to retire with ‘a fifth-round knockout victory’ rather than a defeat