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Britain’s most-loved fighter? Relive Chisora’s best moments beyond the ring
Derek Chisora has long hinted his 50th professional bout this weekend, against former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, will be the finale of his career.
Almost two decades on from a February 2007 debut with a second-round TKO over Hungarian Istvan Kecskes, the 42-year-old appears set to bring the curtain down.
With 36 wins - 23 by knockout - and 13 defeats, the man nicknamed 'War' has done more than stand toe-to-toe with some of the best in the business inside the ring.
Outside it, the star has become a firm fan favourite, with his high-pressure boxing style matched by the number of memorabke moments he has made as a cult hero.
Now, as he prepares for what will reportedly be his final bow, DAZN News takes a look back at some of the key beats that have helped define a larger-than-life career.
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A weird analogy
Chisora famously raised eyebrows when he compared his plans for arch-rival Dillian Whyte to pharmaceutical effects in a 2018 face-off.
Asked to explain how he would get the better of his opponent, 'War' offered a bizarre take, stating: "You ever taken those laxative pills?.
"You wait for 20 minutes [and] they go through you. I'm going to go through this man."
A bemused Whyte infamously called his rival's statement "a bit of a weird analogy", before motoring to an 11th-round TKO triumph.
Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Just business
Chisora kept eyebrows raised throughout 2018 in fact, with a blunt post-fight admission about his physical health raising eyebrows.
The star landed a stunning eighth-round knockout over Carlos Takam at London's The O2 Arena, before sharing the mic with Eddie Hearn.
His then-promoter, in the midst of lauding praise, stated that the fighter had been nursing a secret shoulder injury in the run-up to the fight.
Chisora however cut across him to reveal he had faked it as a bargaining chip to earn a greater payday, winning over a new slew of fans.
Press conference rant
‘Del Boy’ was due to originally face Joseph Parker in October 2019, before an illness for the New Zealander saw David Price replace him at The O2 Arena.
Yet even before that reshuffle, Chisora had already stoked the fires with a brutal tirade after discovering his bout would not be the main event on the bill.
With Regis Prograis and Josh Taylor's light-welterweight unification bout handed closing precedence, 'War' unleashed on promoter Hearn before the media.
"You want to put these guys who nobody knows about on my show and mug me off?" Chisora stated, before dropping a few choice swear words. "F— that!”.
Peckish
In Chisora’s early years as a heavyweight fighter, he was seldom far from trouble. ‘War’ was fined £2,500 and suspended for four months after biting Paul Butlin’s ear in 2009
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Chisora, under fire from a wave of backlash and criticism, went some way to winning hearts back with his unflustered yet concilatory remarks when he spoke on the matter.
“It happens in boxing!" he suggested on his Tyson-esque behaviour with a grin. "What can I say? I was excited [and] I took a little nibble on the guy’s ear!"
The shout-out
'War' found himself square in meme territory when then-rival Oleksandr Usyk took to social media bellowing his name in 2020 across several short videos.
Always up for the fight, Chrisora responded in kind, hollering the Ukrainian's name in a succession of responses before the pair's heavyweight contest.
While Usyk took victory by unanimous decision, the pair have struck up an apparently close friendship since their bout, with the duo often spotted together.
Watch Chisora vs. Wilder only on DAZN
Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder square off this Saturday, April 4, exclusively on DAZN PPV. Buy as a one-off PPV or get this, Wardley vs. Dubois (May 9), and Usyk vs Verhoeven (May 23) PPVs all included with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription for £22.99 / $44.99 per month.
