Darren Barker: Heavyweight showdown has all the ingredients of a blockbuster

In his latest exclusive column, former IBF world middleweight champion Darren Barker runs the rule over Derek Chisora's bout with Deontay Wilder, which you can watch live on DAZN PPV on April 4. 

Heavyweight carnage

I love Derek Chisora against Deontay Wilder. Boxing brings up fun, exciting, sometimes remarkable narratives and this just seems perfect.

Two proud servants of the game, fighters that have definitely left their mark on professional boxing, both entering their 50th contest... and I think stylistically it will gel.

It's absolute heavyweight carnage.

Chisora says he's going to retire win, lose or draw — but I'm not so sure. Although he’s promised his wife he’s done, I see both sides of it.

If you get the best win of your career, what a way to go out. But if you do get the best win of your career, you could be close to a world title shot — and Del would love that. So maybe that would be the only thing that would keep him going.

Wilder has made it very clear he's not finished. He wants to fight Oleksandr Usyk and be the best again, where he once was.

But I just think Chisora vs. Wilder is a fun fight and is going to blow the roof off The O2. It will be an unbelievable atmosphere and I don't see how, with the in-your-face way Chisora fights, that this can't be a blockbuster.

Wilder's not going to move and try to pick him off. That isn't going to happen, so you'd like to think they're going to meet fire with fire and have a proper shootout.

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Del didn't lie when he said at the launch press conference that they're friends — and I don't mind that. Don't get me wrong, if it's legit and not manufactured, I like a bit of argy-bargy and back and forth at pressers.

But it doesn't always have to happen. If two honest professionals promise an explosive fight as soon as that bell goes and they'll shake hands after, I'm all for it.

Boxing is a gentleman's sport and I want to see more of that. I want to see respect in the build-up because it's going to be a good fight regardless.

Whether they're pushing or shoving, shaking hands or sharing fish and chips, I’m really looking forward to it.

Darren Barker was speaking to Gavin Glicksman

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