IN THE HUNT
Underdog Chisora’s gunning for the top
And he will be hunting a huge upset when he takes on Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night.
Chisora is a massive underdog against former undisputed cruiserweight king Usyk.
The London Olympic gold
DOING IT IN STILE: Chisora relaxes medallist is the mandatory challenger for Anthony Joshua’s WBO heavyweight title and the 33- year- old Ukrainian is also unbeaten as a professional.
“It motivates me more. People thinking I am past it and don’t have a chance in hell drives me on,” said 36- year- old Chisora, who is 32- 9 as a professional.
“What is great is the guys around me are motivating me and pushing me hard, so I know it will be amazing when I get in the ring.”
Chisora trains at manager David Haye’s gym in Vauxhall but he lives on a farm in North
London. Usyk has been known to use some alternative training methods such as juggling for hand- eye co- ordination.
But you will not find Chisora up to any of that in his regimented camp alongside Haye.
He said: “I am working on mental and physical stuff, I am lifting a lot of big weights and my mental side is quite good.
“I am not as crazy as I once was, I am more calm. But it’s about getting in the ring and enjoying it – if you are enjoying it, you are calm.
“I haven’t been doing any of that juggling stuff. That’s for sissies. I like going shooting, hunting and killing stuff.” Chisora and Usyk were due to meet back in May until the Covid- 19 pandemic hit.
And when the UK Government ended hopes of fans returning to arenas any time soon last month, it looked like this fight might never happen.
So Chisora and Usyk have both taken pay cuts to get the fight on behind closed doors at Wembley Arena.
But whoever is next door to the man now nicknamed ‘ War’ in the Covid- secure ‘ bubble’ may want some earplugs.
“I love playing old records, like Ray Charles and Motown, so I will bring my own record player in because I have to play it loud,” said Chisora.
“I will have my Union Jack flag, 100 per cent, and probably my massage chair.
“But the main thing is a very loud record player.”
Sounds about right.