By: Sean Crose
Determined to rematch before the end of 2022, heavyweight and WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will re-enter the ring on December 3. His opponent? An old friend and arch-enemy, Derek Chisora, whom Fury has twice finished off. While this is clearly not the fight fans are most looking forward to, it does keep 34-year-old Fury active while providing 38-year-old Chisora with another hit at a world title. The scheduled twelfth round will take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and will be broadcast live in the United States with support from ESPN+.
Fury is one of the great wildcards of boxing. After beating Wladimir Klitschko in a rather gruesome match in 2015, the man quit the sport, inundated with drugs, alcohol, food and depression. However, to his eternal merit, he returned and ended up fighting in a classic trilogy with American powerhouse Deontay Wilder. Still undefeated 32-0-1, the Briton offered Anthony Joshua a chance to regain his heavyweight glory a few weeks ago, but negotiations fell through. With a showdown with fellow Oleksandr Usyk not due until early next year, Fury has turned to a familiar opponent.
Chisora is the kind of shabby vet that it’s hard for anyone not to like. With a 33-12 record, the man won’t be competing for Rocky Marciano’s perfect heavyweight resume. However, Chisora is always the game and it’s nice to see him get a chance to prove himself as his own star. Rocky story. For the few that will give the fighter known as “War” plenty of opportunities to shock the world in December. In 2011, he lost to Fury by unanimous decision. In 2014, he lost to Fury again when his corner stopped the match after ten rounds of teamfights.
Still Fury, who shows that he is, will most likely fuel the December 3 fight with great energy. “GET IT DELETE!!!!”, the towering Brit posted on Twitter on Thursday. “MEET YOU 3RD LONDON DECEMBER!” Chisora replied humorously. “Thank you for the opportunity @Tyson_Fury,” he tweeted. “I will show my appreciation in the ring by knocking you down. I’m madly carrying my black belt #WAR. This will be Fury’s third defense of the WBC title he takes from Wilder in 2021. His final bout ended with a thunderous Dillian Whyte knock-out on Sunday. April. Chistora’s last match was UD’s victory over Kubrat Pulev this past July.
