By Elliot Foster

Dereck Chisora warmed up for his European heavyweight title challenge with a routine win.

The Finchley puncher, who recently signed with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Sport, is targeting a rematch with Dillian Whyte.

But before that, the fight against Agit Kayabel for the blue belt –– which will take place on November 4 at the Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo –– or anything else, it was up to ‘Del Boy’ to get rid of the ring rust against Robert Filipovic.

Filipovic, who is from Germany by way of Croatia, came in as a late replacement for Jay McFarlane –– and he sadly boxed like one.

Two points off and something of a farcical fight led to the majority of the crowd being disinterested.

But the referee, Mark Lyson, spared everyone from having to endure further punishment by calling a halt to the fight midway through round five.

It’ll be back to camp now for Chisora, who will hope that that fight with Whyte will come to fruition and be made for early in 2018 after the aforementioned Hearn revealed on Saturday that the Brixton man will appear on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s IBF, WBA Super and IBO heavyweight world title showdown against Kubrat Pulev on October 28 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

Scott Fitzgerald had to overcome a nasty cut to his right eye to get his latest win.

The Preston man, who won gold at the Commonwealth Games back in 2014 in Glasgow, advanced to 8-0 at the ECHO Arena in Liverpool.

‘Fitzy’ was last in action in July and was in with former Commonwealth champion Bradley Pryce on the undercard of Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing’s ‘Battle On The Mersey’ card.

The cut came early on and it bothered the 25-year-old for a while, but he got over it well and ultimately stepped up his game to force the stoppage against ‘Sugar Sweet’, who was down prior to referee Darren Sarginson saying enough was enough after two minutes and 32 seconds of round five.