Joe Calzaghe has edged towards a winner in tonight’s heavyweight clash between Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder.
The bout carries intrigue despite both men being in the final chapter of their careers.
Chisora, 42, continues to defy expectations, with wins over Otto Wallin and Joe Joyce in his last two outings giving him a significant confidence boost. He says this fight will be his last win, lose or draw.
Wilder may still possess the power that can end a fight instantly, however he has not shown it at a high level in some time. If he can deliver on the promise that, at 40 years old, he is a reinvigorated fighter, he remains dangerous.
In the heavyweight division, it only takes a moment, and both fighters are capable of producing it – Wilder through his infamous power, and Chisora, not typically known as a knockout artist, by catching his rival at the perfect time.
British boxing great Calzaghe told the BBC he believes that will be the case – one good shot ending it all – and has backed Chisora to be the one throwing.
“It’s a tough fight to call. I really like ‘Del Boy’, I still remember him coming and training in our gym and my dad making him very ill doing runs up and down our steps.
“I’m not sure how much either of these guys have left in the tank if I am honest, I think it is one of those fights that could go either way and will probably end with one punch. I’m going to side with Derek on this one.”
The fight tops an MF Pro card at London’s O2 Arena tonight, with Viddal Riley vs Mateusz Masternak for the European cruiserweight title and Denzel Bentley vs Endry Saavedra for the interim WBO middleweight title also on the bill.
