DEREK CHISORA and Joseph Parker will put heavyweight bragging rights on the line when they finally fight.
The pair headline in Manchester, almost two years after their first bout was cancelled.
That was due to Parker sensationally pulling out due to illness caused from a SPIDER BITE.
Since then, the debate between the two has raged on as they built a competitive yet friendly rivalry.
With the first bell as close as ever, here SunSport runs down predictions from those in the boxing world.
Dillian Whyte
Whyte twice beat Chisora and has a win over Parker, and expects both of his old opponents to come asking for more.
He told Sky Sports: “With Chisora, we know that when he’s motivated and he gets his head right and he trains right, he’s a problem for anyone.
“Hopefully he does well, but I don’t care. Whoever wins, it’s good for me. The more heavyweights at the top, the better it is.
“I’m sure the winner will call my name again, but let’s see what happens.”
Prediction… doesn’t care.
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Matthew Macklin
Macklin should be ringside for the fight on commentatory duty for Sky Sports and has backed the bookies underdog in Chisora.
He said:”I think it’s going to be an entertaining fight because I do think Chisora is going to get to Parker.
“I think he will drag him in. It’s just then how much Parker can get back to his boxing or Chisora keeping on him.”
Asked to pick a winner, Macklin said:”I don’t know, I think Chisora can pull it off.”
Prediction… Chisora with the upset.
Johnny Nelson
Macklin’s Sky colleague Nelson went the other way and picked former WBO champion Parker to get the job done.
He said: “It’s a tight one. I think the way Derek’s thrown his heart and soul into this, it wouldn’t surprise me again if he pulled it off.
“But I might have to edge with Parker on a tight points win.”
Prediction… Parker narrowly on the cards.
Eddie Hearn
The promoter has done a great job in selling the PPV main-event, but with his alliance to both men, he did not pick a winner.
Hearn said: “It’s just going to go off from the first bell of that fight. And actually, Joseph Parker is right up there now since his win over Junior Fa.
“He’s top five, top six with a couple of governing bodies now, if he beats Chisora, when these beats become fragemented in probably 2022, he’ll be right up there.
“This is very important to him. For Chisora, it’s the last roll of the dice. Big, big heavyweight fight. When has he given us anything but top, top entertainment?”
Prediction… a great fight.
David Haye
Chisora’s manager and former rivals knows his man has it all to do – by becoming the first man to KO Parker.
Haye explained: “He knows he’s got to knock out Joseph Parker, who’s never been knocked out before.
“He’s going to need to do something that’s never been done before, he’s up against it and he knows it.
“On paper I get why Derek’s a massive underdog, but Derek’s proven people wrong many, many times before.”
Prediction… a tough night in the office.
Luke Campbell
The lightweight contender is rooting for Chisora but appears to rate Parker as the favourite.
Campbell said: “I think this could go both ways. I would like to see Derek win, I really would.
“Derek has a really good chance of winning if he gets on his chest and puts it on him. I think he has a really good chance of winning.
“If Parker sticks to a game plan and hits and moves, then he’s got the style to beat Derek. But Derek is a real handful and I’m rooting for him for the win.”
Prediction… backing Del Boy but hard to split them.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
