Chisora’s grubby trick on Parker
Dereck Chisora spat into his palm before shaking hands with Joseph Parker to end a lively interview ahead of their heavyweight clash in London.
Parker and Chisora square off at the O2 Arena on October 26 and have shot a 30-minute face-to-face interview for promoters Matchroom Boxing.
Host Amber Dixon shook her head after she asked the fighters to shake hands at the end of the piece and Chisora carried out his grubby act.
‘‘Oh, OK . . . spit bothers I guess,’’ a surprised Dixon said.
Parker, who gave as good as he got as the outspoken Chisora had tried to wind him up, held the British fighter’s eye and laughed it off as the interview finished. Parker wiped his right hand on his knee.
Chisora claimed he didn’t actually spit into his hand. Saliva or no saliva, the message was clear.
Chisora had earlier refused to give Parker a fist-bump when the Kiwi offered a conciliatory gesture during a discussion where the fighters agreed on very little.
Predictably the 35-year-old Chisora was on the attack from the outset, labelling Parker a ‘‘choker’’ for failing to make the most of his world unification fight with Anthony Joshua last year where Parker lost on points to surrender his WBO belt.
‘‘He was given the world title, defended it with some bums and when it comes time to step up, he choked,’’ Chisora said.
‘‘This guy . . . we both know he’s a choker, he chokes. The AJ fight you choked.
‘‘He was OK in Australia but now he has jumped into a big pond and there’s real fighters here.’’
Parker was quick to turn the tables on Chisora. Both of them lost to Dillian Whyte last year and Parker emphasised the brutal knockout loss Chisora suffered compared to his own controversial points defeat.
‘‘Who’s loss was worse?’’ Parker taunted.
‘‘I got knocked down and fought on. Did you get up? . . . lights out.
‘‘He doesn’t give credit when it’s due but I don’t want credit from you. Maybe it’s a bit of jealousy. I didn’t quit, there’s no quitting in me.’’
Chisora dismissed Parker’s world title win against Andy Ruiz Jr in Auckland in late 2016 and also attacked Parker’s fighting style.
‘‘You guys robbed Andy Ruiz,’’ he said. ‘‘You ran away, you didn’t beat him.
‘‘If you run you are a chicken. He is going to run [from me] . . . from the amateurs to the pros, he likes to box on the back foot.’’
Parker, certainly a more scientific boxer than the rugged Chisora, countered: ‘‘Boxing is a game of hit and don’t get hit. It’s about being smart. You can’t box, you can fight. I’ll beat you up and catch you.’’
Parker, who has lost two of his three fights in the UK for the only defeats in his 28-fight professional career, appealed for better officiating there.
Chisora mocked that: ‘‘It’s my house. You are coming to my house. It’s going to be my ref, my judges, my promotion.
‘‘You’re not ready for what I’m going to bring. I’m not the best fighter but I’m the craziest fighter.’’
Chisora promised a lively buildup when Parker arrived in London in October, saying he had ‘‘something huge’’ planned for the main press conference.