Derek Chisora has confirmed that he is not retiring and plans to compete for a world title in December. The 42-year-old fighter, who was defeated by Deontay Wilder in an intense match this past April—a bout that was promoted as his 50th and final fight following a 19-year professional career—has dismissed retirement rumors. Speaking at an IBA press conference in Istanbul, Chisora announced his upcoming return to the ring to face Murat Gassiev before the year ends.
“December will be me versus Gassiev,” Chisora declared. “We’ll decide on the venue, either London or Manchester, and two belts will be on the line—the IBA’s and the one held by Gassiev. People need to understand the incredible work the IBA is doing; this goes beyond what we’re doing here today. In December, the fight will happen.”
Chisora has frequently reversed retirement announcements in recent years, with several of his recent matches marketed as farewell bouts. However, he insists on continuing his career, aiming to add to his 36 wins, 23 of which were knockouts. “I never said I was retired. The organizers said it was my ‘50th last dance,’” he explained, humorously comparing it to film sequels like Rush Hour and Coming to America. “This is the ‘Last Dance 3.’ Trust me, I’m a seller—that’s my job.”
His upcoming opponent, Murat Gassiev, is the current WBA ‘super’ heavyweight world champion, a title he was elevated to after Oleksandr Usyk vacated his belts earlier this year. Throughout his career, Chisora has never held a world title, having fallen short in attempts to defeat Vitali Klitschko in 2012 and Tyson Fury in 2022, both fights for the WBC belt.
However, Gassiev’s championship status is currently uncertain due to reports that the WBA might recognize the highly anticipated Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight as a title bout, putting his belt at stake. Gassiev commented on the confusion: “WBA gave me a big surprise about my belt. At the AJ and Fury press conference, I only saw the Ring Magazine belt, no WBA belt. Honestly, I don’t have clear info about this situation. Whether the fight is for the ‘super’ belt or another title, I don’t know. I haven’t received any emails or documents. I’m just a fighter doing my job.”
Fan Take: This announcement injects fresh excitement into the heavyweight division, promising an intriguing clash between two seasoned fighters with something to prove. For fight fans, Chisora’s continued pursuit of a world title underscores the enduring spirit of boxing and hints at a compelling year-end showdown that could shake up the heavyweight landscape.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
