Tyson Fury reunites with Derek Chisora for the first time in the ring since 2014 after Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua fights fell through
Tyson Fury will defend his heavyweight crown in a trilogy fight against rival Derek Chisora at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday December 3 but the World Boxing Council champion has expressed dismay that Anthony Joshua had rejected his offer of a showdown.
Fury, who, assuming he dispatches Chisora, intends to fight Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed championship in the first part of 2023, said that a contest in the future with Joshua is “over”.
“Your man is a businessman and I’m an effing Spartan,” said Fury, in a reference to concerns in the Joshua camp that the requirements of his commercial sponsors might not be adequately met.
“The fight didn’t happen,” Fury added. “The reason I believe is I didn’t think they wanted it to happen, they never had any intentions of it happening beyond seven days. The first week, I think they were interested in the fight . Then he realised the daunting task and he got talked out of it by his people and himself. If that wasn’t the reason, he’d be here now instead of Derek, but he’s not.
“I’ve no more to say about the big useless dosser, he doesn’t have any belts. He doesn’t have anything I need and there will not be fight between him and me ever, full stop, bang. You can put an exclamation mark there as well. There’s just too much messing. I’m not going over it again, they are too hard to deal with. No more wasting time with idiots.
“I believe the final excuse was their sponsors were conflicted. So the sponsorship didn’t let him fight me, but he wasn’t the A side with Usyk and his sponsors allowed him to fight him a second time, so they can’t use that. I’ve got sponsors, many, many sponsors, and they pay me big money. If they told me that I can’t fight Derek Chisora next, do you know what I’d say? He’s the middle finger.
“What business can stand in the way of the most-lucrative fight out there for him? There is no fight that can outweigh Tyson Fury.
“The only money fight for him is to fight me, but that bird has flown. I made him a very generous offer. [Promoter] Frank Warren was saying don’t give him [Joshua] 40 per cent, 25, 30 max. No, I said, give the man his credit, he’s a good dance partner. Anyway, we’re not here to talk about the guy who didn’t fight. It’s gone.
“The man has made plenty of money in his life, I think he’s financially secure, he doesn’t need any more money. The way he is, he’s in a comfortable position and he’s worked hard for it. What I can discredit is his lack of commitment to the British public.”
As for a possible fight with Usyk, Fury said: “I’m not preparing for Usyk at all. I’ll train for him for two weeks. I do not rate Usyk. People keep going on to me about Usyk, why couldn’t Usyk do anything with Chisora?
“I’m going to splatter him [Chisora]. How’s he going to do anything with me? He’s not. I don’t need to sell Chisora to anyone. His name’s ‘War’ and he always comes to fight.”
Fury, 34, has also made an about-turn on thoughts of retirement. “I don’t think I can live a normal life. I feel I need medical help to be able to do that and if there is somebody out there who could help me, I’d love them to get in touch,” he reasoned.
“I won’t be able to leave this game and have a normal life unless I’m brain trained to do that because a normal life is out of order for me. Just keep going, keep fighting.
“I’m going to have three fights next year, starting in February with Usyk and if he wants a rematch, he can have a rematch. Then someone at the back end of the year, Wilder, if he’s mandatory, Joe Joyce, Dubois, there’s plenty of British beef to go after.”
Fury is meeting Chisora for a third time, having beaten his 38-year-old rival in 2011 and 2014.
Where will the fight be held?
Fury’s UK promoter Frank Warren added: “I am thrilled to be delivering a Tyson Fury world title defence in front of the British fans in London. Tyson clearly conquered America across his trilogy with Deontay Wilder and there is also huge demand to stage his fights from sites across the world.
“Tyson wanted to fight in his home country again this year following his special night at Wembley Stadium in April. This brings us to the magnificent Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a match against an old rival in Derek Chisora.
“Derek, also a big favourite with British fans, has reinvented himself in recent years and Tyson has long stated his wish to fight him for a third time.
“Tyson can’t afford any slip-up in this fight as he has the much-publicised undisputed match-up with Usyk in the New Year which we’re really looking forward to.
“I am also delighted that we have added Daniel Dubois to the card with a first defence of his WBA belt against Kevin Lerena. It makes it a real heavyweight night, and Daniel represents the best of the new generation coming through.”
“Whenever Tyson Fury fights, it is a major event, and I expect him to once again put on a spectacular show for the fans,” added Top Rank chairman Arum. “There are talks about what’s next for Tyson, but the first order of business is a battle against an extraordinarily tough fighter in Derek Chisora.”
When will the fight take place?
Todd Kline, Chief Commercial Officer, Tottenham Hotspur, said: “The AJ-Usyk fight in front of a record crowd here in Tottenham was a truly unforgettable spectacle and we are extremely excited to bring World Heavyweight Championship boxing back to N17 on Dec 3.
“The World Cup break leaves us in a unique position of having no Spurs action at the stadium between November 12 – December 31 – what better way to satisfy the demand for world-class live sport before the Premier League returns.”
The card has been augmented with Londoner and WBA regular world champion Dubois making a first defence of his belt against South African southpaw Kevin Lerena.
How to get tickets
You can apply for tickets through TicketMaster here.
How to watch on TV
TV details will be announced in due course, with the match almost certainly to be on pay-per-view TV in the UK. The likely rights holders would be BT Sport.
Which belt or belts will be on the line?
Despite having previously held the unified WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO, and Ring titles, Fury now has ‘just’ the WBC title, which will be up for grabs in Tottenham in December.
What are the fighters’ records?
Fury has 32 wins, 23 by knockout, and one draw – the controversial first fight of a trilogy against Deontay Wilder. Fury has never been beaten.
Chisora has gone into the ring 45 times, winning 33 of his matches – 23 through knockouts – and 12 defeats.