Derek’s right up for Usyk
Josh’s battle cry was a tribute to late pal
DEREK CHISORA is being lined up to face Oleksandr Usyk for the WBO heavyweight title.
The clash is set to happen if the belt becomes vacant after Anthony Joshua’s rematch with Andy Ruiz Jnr in December.
Chisora (below) kept his career alive with Saturday night’s fourth-round stoppage of David Price after the Scouser’s corner threw in the towel in the all-British clash. Joshua is expected to give up the WBO belt due to mandatory commitments if he beats Ruiz Jnr to also reclaim the WBA and IBF titles in Saudi Arabia.
And Chisora’s manager David Haye wants his man to take on ex-undisputed cruiserweight king Usyk, who is No.1 in the rankings.
He said: “I don’t think there are too many heavyweights that could handle that kind of assault.
“Derek did what he’s trained to do, in working behind his jab, and he ground him down.
“I’d like to see him in with Usyk, and Usyk is the mandatory with the WBO.
“[Promoter] Eddie [Hearn] likes that fight a lot.
“Whether it’s now I don’t know.”
JOSH TAYLOR fought back tears as he told how he survived the last two rounds of a thrilling battle with Regis Prograis to become the world’s best light-welterweight.
The super Scot had edged the first 10 rounds against the brilliant American at London’s O2 Arena.
But the bout was still in the balance until the end as Taylor couldn’t see shots coming thanks to huge swelling on his right eye.
He was motivated, however, by his determination to pay a fitting tribute to his girlfriend’s late dad.
James Murphy died in September and Taylor said: “I’ve not been able to do the grieving properly, so it’s been hard.
“I’ve not been able to be there for my girlfriend or her family as much as I would have liked to have been, but I used it as motivation.
“Especially in those last rounds when I couldn’t anything coming – it was determination and heart.
“I was saying, ‘Come on, do this, do this for James’ or Jimmy as I two see pure called him. There was no way was getting beat.
“My ring entrance music (‘Step On’ by Happy Mondays) was for him as well because I knew he would be there with me.”
Taylor later shed tears in the dressing room with his girlfriend Danielle after his victory in one of the fights of the year.
He is now arguably Britain’s best pound-for-pound fighter after this brilliant display in just his 16th professional bout earned him the points decision on cards of 117-112 and 115-113, while one judge had the contest a 114-114 draw.
The unbeaten southpaw added the WBA title to his IBF belt, while he was also crowned World Boxing Super Series winner and handed the gold Muhammad Ali Trophy –
I(above) which will make a nice ornament in his new house.
“We’ve not got a bed or anything yet and so these belts, the trophy, they’re our first bits of furniture,” he said.
“We will be sitting in the living room with a couple of deck chairs and the Ali Trophy to look at.”
But while they will be soon shopping for sofas, beds and dining room tables, Taylor will also be in the market for a couple more light-welterweight belts.
American WBO and WBC champion Jose Ramirez was quick to call him out and Taylor said: “He can get it.
“I’ll take a travelling army to America for Ramirez or bring him back here to Edinburgh Castle.”