Unsurprisingly, Derek Chisora’s recent fight was not his final appearance in the ring. Initially, Chisora had announced his retirement following his 50th bout against Deontay Wilder in April in London. However, on Tuesday, Chisora and IBA president Umar Kremlev revealed that the British boxer will make a comeback under the IBA’s promotion this December in the UK.
While the specific date, location, and opponent have yet to be confirmed, Chisora mentioned at a press event in Istanbul his interest in facing WBA champion Murat Gassiev, potentially in either London or Manchester. Gassiev, who fights under the IBA umbrella, earned the WBA (World) title last December by knocking out Kubrat Pulev in the sixth round and successfully defended it against Peter Kadiru in July.
Following Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to vacate his belts, Gassiev became the division’s sole champion, though this status is now uncertain. The WBA is expected to introduce a “Super” title for the upcoming December 11 heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, which could relegate Gassiev back to a secondary champion position.
Kremlev expressed at the press conference that Chisora chose to support the IBA because he appreciates how they organize competitions. “We promised him a fight, and we will arrange a bout for Derek in England. Our doors are always open to anyone, and we are prepared to hold top-tier fights anywhere,” Kremlev stated.
Chisora echoed the sentiment, praising the IBA’s efforts: “What they are doing is incredible. I believe this is only the beginning and will continue to improve. We’ll be back fighting this December.”
Fan Take: This announcement is exciting news for fight fans, as Chisora’s return promises more high-stakes matchups in the heavyweight division. It also signals a potential reshuffling in the championship landscape, which could make the sport more unpredictable and thrilling moving forward.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
