Tyson Fury defends Derek Chisora battle: ‘He is as harmful as Usyk!’

With negotiations to fight Anthony Joshua having fallen through, the Gypsy King has been looking for a new opponent and reports emerged on Saturday claiming he would take on old rival Chisora in Cardiff on December 3.

The pair have fought twice previously – both dominant wins for Fury in 2011 and 2014 – and the WBC champion is attracted to the possibility of becoming the first heavyweight to win two trilogies against different opponents, having also dispatched Deontay Wilder over three fights.

Asked about the rumours regarding fighting Chisora next, Fury told Seconds Out: ‘I don’t think anything has been signed yet but we’re about to announce next week.

‘There will be an announcement next week of an opponent. I think we have four or five different guys who are in the hat, in the running right now, and one will be selected next week and then it will be on like Donkey Kong on December 3.

‘It’s like eeny, meeny, miny, moe, whichever one of these guys I want to make a millionaire. Because that’s what we’re dealing with, whichever one I want to give the lottery ticket to basically.’

On the appeal of fighting Chisora for a third time, Fury continued: ‘There’s a few guys there and they’re quite tasty appetite whetters.

‘But Chisora would be a good opponent for me because I’d be the first heavyweight champion in history to complete two trilogies and that is history as well.

‘So not only would I win all the belts and have another fight and entertain the fans, but I’d also get a little bit of stuff for myself, a little bit more I can add to my mantle.’

He added: ‘In my opinion, Chisora at least got a draw with Usyk. So I see Chisora every bit as dangerous as Usyk – if it is Chisora [that I fight].

‘Did you watch that fight? It was a very good fight, very close, and I thought Chisora deserved the draw minimum.

‘I think Usyk’s manager had it as a draw as well, if I remember rightly. So Chisora is no pushover. If it is Chisora, he’s no pushover and if you’re not on you’re A game Dereck will beat you to f**k.’

Chisora lost to Usyk two years ago by unanimous decision and followed up that result with two more defeats to Joseph Parker, though did beat Kubrat Pulev earlier this year.

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