Nobody will ever doubt Derek Chisora’s tenacity. But Chisora’s toughness was insufficient on Saturday night in London as Tyson Fury pummeled him before the fight was mercifully stopped in Round 10.
For the third time in their careers, Fury and Chisora squared off, but unlike their first two meetings, Fury entered the ring as the best heavyweight boxer on the planet, while Chisora’s prime had long since passed. Fury quickly proved his talent, working off his stiff jab and punishing Chisora with inside uppercuts from the first few seconds of the first round.
Chisora was never able to counteract Fury’s potent strike. Chisora attempted to release his grip, but Fury fiercely retaliated. Chisora shelled up against the ropes, and Fury was as happy to unleash some cutting combos.
Chisora avoided the canvas after receiving numerous clean uppercuts and right punches from Fury. The referee stepped in at the 2:51 mark of the 10th round after another right hand and uppercut from Fury left Chisora reeling. Chisora had blood coming from his mouth and his eyes were swollen, but his corner showed no interest in intervening to protect their fighter.
“I felt great. I required a few rounds, “After the fight, Fury commented about his performance. “Eight or nine months after retiring, I hadn’t boxed. I’ve been quite busy. Tonight I was feeling terrific in there. I thought my punches were solid and that I had found the jab. Don’t underestimate Derek Chisora; he is a true warrior. It has been an honor to battle him three times. He is the epitome of a British folk hero. We all now adore Derek Chisora because he has won over everyone.”
Oleksandr Usyk, the WBA, WBO, and IBF champion, was seated ringside when Fury switched his focus to Usyk after praising Chisora on his performance. As Usyk ascended to the ring apron, Fury taunted him by calling for an uncontested title bout to follow.
“Olekandr Usyk, where are you?” Fury enquired. “the hare. Hello, bunny. You little bitch, come on. Next is you. Me and you, a dwarf who weighs 15 stone defeats a bodybuilder. I’m not a bodybuilder, you fool. I’m going to disregard you. Klitschko, the Ukrainian, was the one I already completed. Gappy-teeth, I’ll do you as well. Stupid little man, you. Let’s start now.”
Usyk remained motionless while Fury yelled at him and teased him, at one time appearing to answer a call on his cellphone. Boxing fans are most anticipating the bout with Usyk. The first four-belt undisputed heavyweight champion would be crowned. But Fury also said that Joe Joyce might be the opponent for his subsequent fight.
Joyce agreed wholeheartedly when Fury stated that if “rabbit” Usyk decided to leave the fight, he would gladly fight Joyce before pursuing a fourth fight with Deontay Wilder. Joyce was standing next to Usyk on the ring platform.
Then, Fury said that two injuries might cause his next fight to be postponed. He first claimed that punching Chisora had hurt his hand. He continued by saying that he has been experiencing problems with his right elbow, which could necessitate surgery and keep him out of action for six to eight weeks. That would probably move the scheduled date of Fury vs. Usyk from February or March to late spring or early summer. He added that in October, he underwent surgery on his left arm.
Daniel Dubois made a comeback on the undercard, stopping Kevin Lerena in the third round, but not without incident. Lerena felled Dubois an incredible three times in the first frame, but after appearing to harm Dubois once more in the second, Lerena never pressed the gas pedal again. But before the referee intervened and stopped the fight, Dubois was able to knock Lerena out late in the third round.
