Chisora: I’ll smoke Parker
Outspoken British heavyweight Dereck Chisora has brushed off troubles in his camp, vowing to ‘‘smoke’’ Joseph Parker in their London fight.
The two clash at the O2 Arena on October 26 and Chisora believes the bout could surpass his 2016 thriller with Dillian Whyte which ended in a split decision to Whyte.
‘‘I’m going to smoke that guy,’’ Chisora said of former WBO champion Parker when asked by IFL TV.
‘‘This fight is going to be buzzing. I’m going to go crazy, man.
‘‘If you watched me and Dillian in the first fight, you think that was a good fight, watch me and Parker. I am ready to go. I am ready to die in that ring. I want to go to town.’’
Chisora was interviewed relaxing in a limousine ahead of a London press conference where he delivered a tirade of abuse about his clash with Parker being an undercard fight to the world title bout between superlightweights Josh Taylor and Regis Prograis, in the final of the World Boxing Super Series.
An angry Chisora threatened to pull out of the Parker fight unless it was given the appropriate main event status.
Speaking in a more controlled tone about the actual Parker fight, Chisora told IFL TV: ‘‘I’m buzzing, I’m excited. I feel good, I feel excited.’’
He later confessed not all was running smoothly in his training camp, including a split with his trainer David Coldwell, who has overseen two victories since taking charge of the 35-year Chisora earlier this year.
‘‘There’s a couple of hiccups in the camp, but you know what, it’s good,’’ he said, adding when asked for details, ‘‘there’s a problem with me and David’’.
His manager, former world heavyweight champion David Haye, later explained that logistics meant Coldwell wouldn’t be able to attend the London date with Parker to work Chisora’s corner. There was no confirmation on who was taking the reins as a replacement trainer at such short notice.
That development will certainly be noted by Parker, who is burying himself into training in Las Vegas with his long-term coach Kevin Barry.