Dereck Chisora: ‘They’ve screwed down the tables this time’

DERECK CHISORA and Dillian Whyte failed to repeat the fireworks that marred the build-up to their first fight but still engaged in several hostile exchanges at Thursdayโ€™s head to head press conference.

The London rivals clash at the O2 in a repeat of their memorable showdown in Manchester two years ago when Whyte snatched a controversial split decision.

Chisora joked that the tables had been screwed down in reference to scenes in 2016 when he picked one up and hurled it at Whyte, earning a ยฃ25,000 fine and a suspended two-year sentence.

derek chisora
Dereck Chisora has been warned over his conduct by the British Boxing Board of Control (Steve Paston/PA)

Both fighters have been warned by the British Boxing Board of Control over the their conduct ahead of Saturdayโ€™s rematch, but when Whyte mocked Chisoraโ€™s recent conversion into a born again Christian, the 34-year-old former world title challenger reacted.

โ€œThe funniest thing is at least Iโ€™m not doing any black magic. The voodoo talk,โ€ Chisora said.

โ€œYou might say whatever you want to say but donโ€™t come with the black magic talk, giving me the curses and the voodoo talk.

โ€œTheyโ€™ve screwed down the tables this time, but itโ€™s OK. I donโ€™t really want to do that any more. If I want to do something, Iโ€™ll do something.

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Chisora is happy with how his training has gone (Steve Paston/PA)

โ€œBut right now Iโ€™m just happy that training has gone well. Iโ€™m ready to fight. The plan is to bite down the gumshield and seek and destroy.

โ€œEveryone loved the first fight. I enjoyed it, although my brain cells didnโ€™t enjoy it. Iโ€™ve been asking for this rematch for a while and itโ€™s happening now.

โ€œItโ€™s not a risky fight for me. Weโ€™re going to take whatโ€™s his and make it mine. Itโ€™s not a risky fight.โ€

Chisora has won all but one of his four fights since being edged by Whyte at the Manchester Arena, dropping a majority decision to Agit Kabayel in Monte Carlo where the crowd made a poor impression on the Harare-born Briton.

dillian whyte
Dillian Whyte has promised there will be blood when he faces Chisora (Steve Paston/PA)

โ€œI like to have fights and the crowd in Monacoโ€ฆ.youโ€™re sweating in there and you have people drinking their Margaritas, looking at you like itโ€™s the gladiators or the slave days fighting for the white man. Back to the slave days,โ€ he said.

โ€œIt was like that in Monaco. You look out of the ring and everyone is on their Blackberries and on their phones. Itโ€™s not a great place for boxing.โ€

Whyte was happy to let Chisora and his manager David Haye do most of the talking knowing that he enters his 26th fight as odds-on favourite.

โ€œIโ€™ve been in fights where people are screaming and shouting, Iโ€™m going to do this or do that. But Iโ€™m just conserving my energy. Iโ€™m relaxed,โ€ Whyte said.

โ€œYou know I can fight and box and have power. This fight doesnโ€™t need any selling, but there will be blood drawn on Saturday night.โ€

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