HEAVYWEIGHT veteran Derek ‘Struggle’ Chisora will combat for the 49th time in his profession early subsequent yr.
On February 8 at Manchester’s Co-op Stay Enviornment the 40-year-old faces Otto Wallin, 27-2 (15 KOs), in the primary occasion.
Chisora has stated he desires 50 fights on his résumé earlier than calling time on a profession that started on February 17, 2007. The Londoner was linked to a combat in opposition to Jarrell Miller, 26-1-2 (22 KOs), however yesterday the American stated “the combat was off” through social media citing variations with promoter Dmitriy Salita as the explanations behind it.
Wallin, who was as soon as promoted by Salita as properly, will substitute his former promotional stable-mate and look to spoil the ultimate leg of Chisora’s profession.
“I’ve had some wonderful nights in Manchester, each within the ring and within the warehouse raves so was its solely proper I had one final dance up north,” Chisora stated. “Come February 8 I’m going to be bringing WAR to Wallin, be prepared for my penultimate showreel knockout.”
Chisora has gained three of his final 5 fights beating Kubrat Pulev, Gerald Washington and Joe Joyce. The 2 defeats got here in a rematch in opposition to Joseph Parker and when he challenged Tyson Fury for the WBC Heavyweight title at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A bout which ended together with his 13th profession loss.
Wallin, who has far much less mileage on the clock, is on the comeback path after retiring within the fifth spherical of his loss to Anthony Joshua in December 2023. The 34-year-old southpaw obtained again to profitable methods in July, nonetheless, recording a first-round knockout of Nigerian veteran Onoriode Ehwarieme.
“I feel it is a nice combat on the proper time for me,” Wallin stated. “I’m wanting ahead to combating in Manchester, and I do know I’m strolling into the Lion’s Den, however I shall be prepared for it and able to get the victory!”
The chief help slot options a captivating all-British gentle heavyweight battle between Zach Parker, 25-1 (18 KOs), and Willy Hutchinson, 18-2 (13 KOs). Parker made his 175lbs debut in July stopping former middleweight Jack Arnfield. Hutchison, in the meantime, obtained within the combine after beating Craig Richards in June earlier than dropping in valiant vogue to world title contender Joshua Buatsi in September.
Elsewhere on the cardboard Jack Rafferty, 24-0 (15 KOs), defends his British and Commonwealth tremendous light-weight titles in opposition to Kane Gardner, 17-3 (7 KOs). Whereas Masood Abdulah places his Commonwealth featherweight title on the road in opposition to Zak Miller, 14-1 (3 KOs). The February 8 card may even see the return of former British middleweight champion and crowd favorite Nathan Heaney, 18-1-1 (6 KOs), seven months after dropping his title to Brad Pauls of their rematch.