War
‘Derek Chisora needs to knock out Joseph Parker’ – predictions for heavyweight from Eddie Hearn, David Haye, Dillian Whyte and more
Derek Chisora and Joseph Parker are going to war on Saturday in a heavyweight clash 18 months in the making.
The original showdown between the pair was cancelled when Parker pulled out through illness and since then, both men have picked up victories to make their way back to each other.
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Chisora lost to Oleksandr Usyk last time out and this showdown with a former world champion is being viewed as the 37-year-old's last real roll of the dice.
For Parker, a man already in the top five of a few rankings, he can move himself into the title picture with a victory, but will he get it? Predictions from those inside boxing are below.
Eddie Hearn - Matchroom promoter
"It’s a great heavyweight fight. I think sometimes, people don’t give Del Boy enough credit. He lost a competitive fight to Oleksandr Usyk who is a pound-for-pound great, an undisputed cruiserweight champion.
"The Parker style is going to suit him a lot better. Both guys now teaming up with a new training team. Great, great men. Andy Lee in Parker’s corner and Buddy McGirt in Chisora’s corner, it’s going to be an interesting battle.
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"It’s just going to go off from the first bell of that fight. And actually, Joseph Parker is right up there now since his win over Junior Fa. He’s top five, top six with a couple of governing bodies now, if he beats Chisora, when these beats become fragemented in probably 2022, he’ll be right up there.
"This is very important to him. For Chisora, it’s the last roll of the dice. Big, big heavyweight fight. When has he given us anything but top, top entertainment?
David Haye - Chisora's manager
"[Chisora] isn't going there to go 12 rounds, what's the point of that? That means he's accepted defeat, he can't do that. He knows he's not going to win this fight on points.
"If we hear the final bell it's not going to be in Derek's favour. I don't think Derek's ever won a big fight on points. The style he has, judges don't seem to like.
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"He knows he's got to knock out Joseph Parker, who's never been knocked out before. He's going to need to do something that's never been done before, he's up against it and he knows it.
"On paper I get why Derek's a massive underdog, but Derek's proven people wrong many, many times before."
Dillian Whyte - WBC heavyweight interim champion
"Derek Chisora finds a way of coming back, because people challenge him, thinking he could be an easy fight and then he shows up and he surprises a lot of people," he told Sky Sports.
"Parker since he fought me, he hasn't been the same, and he hasn't fought any top guys. But he still talks, 'I want the rematch, I want this and that.'
"I beat you last time when I had a broken rib and a broken hand, and a bad chest infection. I bullied you around the ring.
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"He's a young guy, he's tough, he can take a punch, but it seems like he hasn't got so much drive any more.
"With Chisora, we know that when he's motivated and he gets his head right and he trains right, he's a problem for anyone.
"Hopefully he does well, but I don't care. Whoever wins, it's good for me. The more heavyweights at the top, the better it is. I'm sure the winner will call my name again, but let's see what happens."
Johnny Nelson - former cruiserweight champion
"Derek Chisora has gotten into the habit of bringing his A-game now and every fight seems to be ‘if he doesn’t come through this one…’ then all of a sudden he comes out with an outstanding knockout or some kind of top performance.
"Again, this is one of those fights where he can’t afford to lose and neither can Parker. If it goes to form - and I’m a massive fan of Derek and I want him to pull this off - if it goes to form, Parker should be able to outbox him. But, if Derek still has that engine and that pressure, he can produce in this fight.
"He’s been sparring with the best, the Dubois’ and the likes, he’s in there with movers and punchers. If Derek can perform that career performance, he gets the fight. But again, it’s down to gameplan because both guys are good at what they do, but very different."
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Luke Campbell - current fifth-ranked lightweight
“I think this could go both ways. I would like to see Derek win, I really would.
“Dereck has a really good chance of winning if he gets on his chest and puts it on him. I think he has a really good chance of winning.
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“If Parker sticks to a game plan and hits and moves, then he’s got the style to beat Derek.
“But Derek is a real handful and I’m rooting for him for the win.”
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