CHISORA: I’LL QUIT WHEN I’M READY

Brit fighter says he will never do a BoJo even if he takes a Pulev KO

DEREK CHISORA insists he has no plans to do a Boris Johnson, telling Eddie Hearn he’ll quit when he is ready.

Chisora, who sported a BoJo mask at yesterday’s weigh-in, was responding to promoter Hearn’s claims he should retire if he suffers a fourth straight defeat when he fights Kubrat Pulev at the O2 in London tonight.

A second defeat by Pulev, who beat him on points in 2016, would also be the 13th of his pro career. His last win was nearly three years ago. Yet Chisora is adamant he won’t be forced out like the PM and warned he has no time for those who want to retire him, claiming his performances in his most recent losses, to Joseph Parker and Oleksandr Usyk, show he can still compete at world level.

The fans also love him because no one, including himself, knows what he is going to do next. The 38-year-old, who has clocked up 44 fights in a 15-year career, enjoys the adulation and says only he will decide when it’s time to hang up his gloves. “I’m not retiring for s**t!” said the former world heavyweight title challenger. “Other fighters, they listen to so many people. They’re not strong mentally. This game, you have to be strong in your mind.

“They were looking for a way out and, once they got a way out, they left. When you want to retire, you start talking to your family and they make the decision for you. I make my own decisions. I’ll retire when I’m ready.”

The colourful and, at times, controversial Chisora claims he still fights because he loves boxing so much.

The Finchley fighter ( facing Pulev at yesterday’s weigh-in, right) knows he will probably not get another world title shot and is happy to keep pocketing the big purses for headlining shows like tonight’s. “I enjoy it,” he said. “I enjoy training, I enjoy fighting, I just enjoy the whole promotion.

“I’m motivated every day. I enjoy life, I enjoy doing what I do every day. It motivates me, that’s why I keep doing it. I’m a prizefighter and prizefighting is a very good business to be in.”

Chisora is over his split-decision defeat by Pulev when he fought him for the European title in Hamburg six years ago.

And he is not bothered ahead of their rematch by Pulev’s taunts that his only tactic is to go to war with his opponents.

“I don’t remember much about that fight, not much,” he said. “They gave it to him and I’ve moved on. I don’t listen to what people like him say, I just do what makes me happy. I train, fight and then I go to war, that’s it.

“Strategy is for those guys who don’t want to fight a war, guys who just want to nick it, winning by not doing any work. I’m ready for him and I know he will have the same style as he always does, so let’s get it on.”

Bulgarian 41-year-old Pulev, beaten by Anthony Joshua 18 months ago, is the 2-5 favourite for tonight’s fight in London, with Chisora 2-1 and the draw 18-1. It’s just 4-6 for the heavyweight showdown to go the distance

Chisora v Pulev is live on DAZN from 7pm.