Chisora Wants Vitali Klitschko To Take Wladimir's Place
By Terence Dooley
Derek ‘Del Boy’ Chisora was left bitterly disappointed when Wlad Klitschko pulled out of their heavyweight world title fight at the eleventh hour due to a muscle tear. Rumor has it that Wlad will use this six week delay to set up a unification with David Haye in the spring, leaving Chisora, a shock title shot recipient in the first place, out in the cold. Derek, though, insists that he has a binding contract with the IBF, WBO and IBO world champion.
“Disappointed is not the word but I’ll bounce back,” insisted Chisora when speaking exclusively to BoxingScene.com about Wlad’s withdrawal.
“We have a contract and he has to rearrange or pay me to step aside so I hope to know something soon. I’ll be fighting in February either way and will get to the top. I want the fight but am not giving up. I’m very annoyed, very annoyed, but what can you do. I’ve got thirty days so we’ll see.”
Chisora shrugged when asked if he thinks that Wlad will meet David Haye in the spring, paying the British and Commonwealth champion money to step aside in the process. “I don’t know, you’d have to ask him about that,” shrugged Chisora.
“I was comfortable, this is the fighting game so I am always ready to fight. He trained hard, I trained hard and was ready to fight. Shit happens. Speed and power was in my favor so he’d have gone either way.
“I will sit down with [promoter] Frank [Warren] and think about what to do. I want to take over the division. This fight would have done great numbers because I’ve got lots of people behind me, the whole of Africa. People from London, Zimbabwe and other places, it would have been huge. It could have been the biggest fight ever in Great Britain in terms of views.”
‘Del Boy’ also feels that Saturday night would have presented him with the perfect opportunity to show German and US fans what he is made of. Indeed, the 14-0 (9) boxer feels that WBC boss Vitali Klitschko, who recently defeated Shannon Briggs, should take over his brother’s responsibilities and accommodate a Chisora challenge in the New Year.
“The American fans understand that I wanted to inject something into the heavyweight game with this fight and that I can inject something more than other fighters and would have done with this fight,” smiled Chisora.
“I would take the other brother, Vitali, he defends his title in three months time and I’m really up for that one. I’m a man on a mission. Three fights in one year is no good for me and I’d have liked this one to make it four fights, which is what I want.
“I’m having a good time, getting stronger and finding more power. People better be careful, man – I’m finding my rhythm so people are in trouble. This is the fighting game and I don’t get upset by stuff like this, the days you get upset you need to retire because you’re not enjoying it anymore. I’m happy because I’m a fighter and I love fighting. I’m putting this to one side and seeing what happens in the next thirty days.”
Many UK fans had been looking forward to seeing the German crowd’s reaction to Chisora’s distinctive Only Fools And Horses themed ring walk, although the man himself had planned to do something a bit different had he strolled to the ring in Germany on Saturday night.
“Nah,” winked Chisora, “Only Fools and Horse is for my UK fans, I had something else planned for this one! But I wasn’t just looking for publicity and exposure, I can get that by myself, I was looking for the titles and the big win.”
Still, rumor has it that Chisora’s hopes are destined to be thwarted, with early whispers indicating that Wlad is now set to meet Haye in spring, with Vitali a summer option for ‘The Hayemaker’ should Wlad fall. Wembley is a potential venue for a summer showdown with Vitali in what would be Haye’s last fight.
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