Last month, Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder went toe-to-toe in a gruelling battle that was supposed to be the latter’s career finale, but it now seems as though the heavyweight duo could run it back, with Wilder’s post-fight comments being a key reason why.
Ahead of their O2 Arena clash, Chisora vowed that the outing would be his last and he went out swinging, losing a split-decision in a bout that lacked technical wizardry but provided plenty of brutality, guts and entertainment – befitting as the final fight of Chisora’s career, which could be summarised similarly.
Following his upset win, Wilder revealed that he ‘held back’ on Chisora during the latter rounds, conscious of the damage that he could cause and claiming to have been thinking of the veteran’s children when opting not to pursue a more emphatic ending.
In an exclusive interview with Boxing News, Amer Abdallah, President of MF Pro, revealed that he received a call from Chisora a couple of weeks ago, where the 43-year-old demanded a rematch, ‘livid’ at Wilder’s words.
“He called me a couple of weeks ago and he was perturbed, he was upset that Deontay said that he took it easy on him and sent him home to his family. He was livid. He kept saying ‘get me the rematch, get me the rematch’.
“So, I will let it simmer for a little bit, if he feels the same way in the next couple of weeks then we can have that conversation, but I definitely think Deontay would be open to it.
“Shelly [Finkel] and I are very close, we talk daily, so I hope to be able to work some things out with Deontay and then if Derek wants to stay in the mix, possibly something with him also.
Sky Sports have now reported that Chisora’s wife has given him the ‘green light’ to take part in a rematch with ‘The Bronze Bomber’.
Abdallah told Boxing News that he expects Wilder to accept the proposal for a rematch and that MF Pro are hoping to promote it.
“We have a great relationship with Deontay and I would like to think that we have protected the interests of the promotion to be able to secure, if there was a rematch or future business with, both guys.
“I think that Deontay Wilder would absolutely take the rematch and the great thing with Deontay is that he is back. He is in a position now where he is back in the heavyweight picture.
“A lot of people wrote him off, I never did, I maintained a great relationship with both Shelly and Deontay. I have always believed him, how do you not believe in a guy that has that kind of equalising power?
“More importantly, Deontay is mentally and emotionally in a wonderful place, probably the best in his career, because when you hit rock bottom, it is the best foundation to build off. I believe that he needed to hit that so that he could either go one of two ways; he chose to rebuild, restructure, reaffirm his faith and his emotional and mental control of himself.
“He is in a dangerous place for that heavyweight division, he is a player back in that division now.”
Wilder had outlined hopes of targeting another shot at the world heavyweight title after his win over Chisora, but could now opt to take a rematch with ‘Del Boy’ instead.
