Chisora snipes at Hearn for overlooking Whyte
Dereck Chisora had stronger criticism for promoter Eddie Hearn than for his rival, Dillian Whyte, at their pre-fight press conference for their heavyweight contest at the O2 Arena on Saturday night.
In a sideswipe at Hearn’s control of the careers of Whyte and Anthony Joshua, Chisora insisted a world title opportunity should have been created for his opponent against Deontay Wilder.
“Eddie Hearn should have got Dillian a world title by now. He has held the WBC ‘Silver’ title and should have fought Wilder,” said Chisora.
He vowed he would gain revenge in the pair’s second contest, after a narrow defeat two years ago in one of the greatest 12-round heavyweight fights on British shores. For the winner this time, there is the prospect of meeting Joshua in a high-stakes world title battle next April at Wembley Stadium.
“I can’t afford to go to the judges this time,” said Chisora. “I will pound him, hit him, pound him, hit him... this isn’t a risky fight for me. I will take what’s his, and make it mine. Right from the get-go, I will run over to his side, and start pounding him down.
“It doesn’t matter what he’s done, or how much he says he has improved. He can’t hurt me. He hasn’t got a powerful shot that bothers me. I am going to find this guy, hunt him down and beat him up.”
Whyte countered: “He won’t be pounding me. There’s levels to this thing. I’m improving with every fight. Dereck will see how strong I am. I’m used to people trying to get into my head, I don’t think even Dereck himself knows what he is doing. Believe me, it will not go to the judges this time. The first time we fought was my second-ever 12-rounder and the first time I got stopped [by Joshua in 2016]. I didn’t know what my conditioning would be like back then.”
Having been through three camps at Loughborough University. Whyte looks physically primed for the fight. “Now I’ve been there and done it, and the rounds I’ve experience showed in my last fight [against Joseph Parker]. I was put down in the last round but got up to see it through.”
Josh Warrington, meanwhile, will continue the Leeds United theme he has adopted at his world title defence on Friday by inviting the club’s captain, Liam Cooper, to join him for his ring walk.
The Yorkshireman has previously paid homage to his home side by wearing the white, blue and gold Leeds colours, including at the club’s ground Elland Road in May, where he upset Lee Selby to win the IBF featherweight world title. He said it was “an honour” to have Cooper accompany him on his ring walk for his first title defence against former WBA featherweight champion, Belfast’s Carl Frampton Manchester. —
I will pound him, hit him, pound him, hit him... this isn’t a risky fight
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