Tony Bellew: Oleksandr Usyk Won’t Give Derek Chisora A Farewell Fight
Tony Bellew says unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk will NOT give Derek Chisora the send-off retirement fight he’s asking for. There’s nothing for Usyk to gain with a fight of that level, and it makes no sense financially because there would be scant interest from fans outside of the UK.
Chisora, 41, sounded delusional, calling out Usyk and Anthony Joshua following his win over Otto Wallin last Saturday night in Manchester, England. His face was beaten up, showing worse swelling than any other fight he’s had during his 18-year professional. They tried to play it off, saying the facial damage was from a head clash, but that wasn’t the truth. Wallin had been beaten up in his loss. He would have won if he’d shown some courage because Chisora (36-13, 23 KOs) was exhausted by the eighth round and resembled a punching bag throughout the remainder of the fight.
Chisora’s promoter can probably dig up a domestic-level heavyweight for his 50th and final fight, but not more than that. If Chisora wants to wait until 2026, he can use his IBF mandatory spot to challenge champion Daniel Dubois, but that will not be the big payday he’s obviously looking for. He wants the AJ and Usyk money.
You can’t expect Usyk to fight to stoop to the level of indulging a down-and-out journeyman like Chisora. Once he does that, he’ll have every ham & egger pressuring him for a fight night and day. It would be a nightmare for the champion.
“I don’t think there’s anything for Oleksandr Usyk to gain in that fight. Now, believe you me, he is the boss of the [heavyweight] division],” said Tony Bellew to talkSport Boxing about unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk unlikely being interested in giving 41-year-old Derek Chisora a rematch. “So, nothing really being at stake for him and nothing that he wants, I don’t see him going over old ground. He’s not someone he rarely does. A rematch he wins so easily unless it’s financially hugely beneficial. I just don’t see it. “For Derek, he deserves that one big ride into the sunset. 50-0 and out. I’d like to see him. There are so many. He’s even called his friend. He said he wants to fight me, the lunatic,” said Bellew about Chisora.
