Home/Boxing

via Getty

via Getty

Derek Chisora isn’t one to mince words. Earlier, he tipped his hat to Francis Ngannou’s prowess. Now, he’s stirring the pot again. Chisora has a craving, not for words, but for punches. With Ngannou, the former UFC champion, in sight, Chisora’s rhetoric takes an unusual twist. “Why do you eat food?” he quips.

A bizarre question in a boxing context, yet it’s his off-kilter hook. This isn’t about Ngannou’s debut against Fury or the knockdown that had the world talking. It’s about Chisora’s hunger for the fight. He sees a chance to devour a challenge, and to him, it’s as essential as a meal. His words previously praised Ngannou; now they challenge him.

Chisora on why Ngannou fight is as important as eating food

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Francis Ngannou’s first dance under the bright lights of a boxing ring was a performance that captured the imagination of the fight world. Standing across one of boxing’s modern gladiators, Tyson Fury, Ngannou showcased a blend of raw power and an ironclad will. Knocking the heavyweight champion down and nearly rewriting the headlines. It’s this display of tenacity from ‘The Predator’ that has everyone talking, and among the voices is that of Derek Chisora.

Chisora’s eagerness to enter the ring with Ngannou comes hot on the heels of the latter’s nearly victorious boxing debut. In his conversation with Boxing News, Chisora drew an unconventional parallel when discussing his desire to fight Ngannou. Saying, “I want the fight, why not? Why do you eat food? Why do you go to the restaurant for? What you go on a plane for? You want to go on holiday, don’t you?”

Clearly, Chisora views a potential clash with Ngannou as a form of sustenance, a necessary step in his career. An adventure, much like a holiday, that offers a change from the usual and the promise of excitement. The interviewer, taken aback by the comparison, prodded further only to get a pragmatic slice of Chisora’s mindset, “It’s all about who sells more. What’s the real reason? It’s about who talks more.”

Chisora’s blunt response is laced with the gritty reality of modern-day combat sports — a mixture of spectacle and competition where talk can sometimes outweigh talent. His willingness to step into the ring with a heavyweight monster like Ngannou speaks volumes of his confidence.

Chisora asserts Ngannou’s triumph was a fluke

 In a candid interview with iFL TV, Chisora claimed a fight against Ngannou would be definitive, with him coming out on top. “Would be a great fight, and I’ll knock him out,” he confidently stated, suggesting Ngannou’s victory over Fury came when the Gypsy King was not at his best. “He just caught Tyson Fury on a bad day,” Chisora added. Implying the fight’s outcome could have been different.

Despite this, Chisora acknowledged the buzz Ngannou created, “Listen, everybody was impressed. He held himself very well,” he said. But he quickly pointed out that his own prediction of the fight had been dismissed. “I said he was going to drop Tyson in the first two-three rounds, and everybody looked at me, like oh stupid,” Chisora recounted, insinuating that he saw something others didn’t. His remarks frame the potential clash as not just a bout but a chance to validate his predictions and boxing acumen.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Also Read: Despite Admitting Anthony Joshua’s Lack of Interest in Fighting Francis Ngannou, Eddie Hearn Details Why Ex-UFC Champion Is a “Credible” Opponent

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

As we ponder Chisora’s forthright perspective, one cannot help but wonder about the future matchups that lie ahead. What do you think should be the driving force behind deciding mega-fights? The pure competitive spirit or the guarantee of a commercial blockbuster?

Watch this story: All We Know So Far About Potential Francis Ngannou vs. Deontay Wilder MMA Fight