Tyson Fury ‘rates Derek Chisora as highly as Oleksandr Usyk’ - promises fans a ‘war’ on December 3
- Lewis Oldham
- 20 October 2022
Tyson Fury has come out with a baffling statement as he thinks that his next opponent - Derek Chisora - is on a par with two-weight world champion Oleksandr Usyk.
It was confirmed on Thursday morning that Fury will return to the ring on December 3 to fight former foe Chisora at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It was initially hoped that he would battle Usyk in an undisputed fight, but the Ukrainian is taking a few months out of the ring after his second victory over Anthony Joshua in August.
Ahead of his next fight, Fury has claimed that Chisora is as good a fighter as Usyk.
"Usyk was a little small heavyweight, who wasn't going to do anything against AJ, when Chisora fought him," Fury said at the launch press conference.
"But then he stepped up and beat the big bodybuilder [Joshua] and all of sudden he's a killer? I don't think so. I rate Derek Chisora as highly as I rate Usyk."
He added: "As for me trying to sit here and try to sell Derek Chisora to the fans, I ain't got to sell absolutely nothing to nobody.
"With Chisora, it does exactly what it says on the tin: he goes to war. He's changed his name from 'Delboy' to 'War', and we're going to get a war.
"I did outbox him comfortably the second time. Chisora's style has changed and guess what - so has mine. I used to be a tip-tap boxer jabbing around the ring.
"I'm now an HMS destroyer. When you've got two heavy forces colliding, someone's getting knocked out."
In the words of my twin @TheRock ‘Just Bring it’ … Come and get it! #FuryChisora3 https://t.co/KQJSd4XdoT
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) October 20, 2022
Even for Fury, this is a very out-there statement to come out with.
Chisora is a plucky and durable fighter but he has never been anywhere close to matching the ability of Usyk.
The pair previously fought and Chisora was outclassed over 12 rounds by Usyk to lose via unanimous decision.
Chisora is a tough man, and he is deserving of one final payday. But Fury needs to be facing better opposition.
'The Gypsy King' has already beaten his fellow Brit twice before and there was clearly a gulf in class back then.
Expect Fury to win easily once again. If this is just an unnecessary side-step before facing Usyk early on in 2023, this title defence can be let slide.
But if Fury does not fight Usyk next year, there will be a lot of questions coming his way.
