DEREK CHISORA thoroughly deserved his standing ovation after his outstanding victory over Otto Wallin in Manchester last Saturday.
The thousands who packed the Co-op Arena were every bit as emotional as Del Boy after seeing him twice bludgeon the Swede to the canvas on his way to becoming the mandatory challenger for Daniel Dubois’ IBF world heavyweight title.
Chisora soaked up the adulation as blood gushed from his badly cut eyes before his war wounds were eventually stitched.
It was certainly an incredible performance for a man who has had a brutal 18-year, 49-fight career that has seen him win British, Commonwealth and European titles and twice fight for the world championship.
But I’m afraid I can’t join in the general Chisora cheerleading party.
There’s no getting away from the undeniable fact that after slugging it out over 12 rounds, at the final bell the battle-scarred Chisora looked every one of his 41 years.
There’s no doubt Derek will be encouraged to take on Dubois or even Anthony Joshua as a 50th fight finale – either at a London stadium or in Riyadh.
I will be accused of being a party-pooper, but that is a fight I would hate to happen.
Two years ago, after Chisora took a terrible beating from Tyson Fury’s educated fists at Tottenham Hotspur’s ground, this column implored him to retire.
I was in excellent company because so did his promoter Frank Warren.
They may not be prepared to admit it publicly, but most boxing people – fighters, trainers and managers – know Chisora should have hung up his gloves a long time ago.
But Chisora is a one-off law unto himself and he has no intention of taking advice from anyone – however good it is.
There is no doubt he has become a cult figure with the fans – in fact his thousands of followers are boxing’s equivalent of cricket’s Barmy Army.
They sing his name as soon as he climbs through the ropes and never stop.
That’s because he gives them what they want to see – blood and guts.
That’s all very well but it’s his blood and his guts he’s spilling – not theirs.
I just wish I could understand Del Boy’s intransigent addiction to fame and pain.
Chisora is a one-off law unto himself and he has no intention of taking advice from anyone – however good it is
He dotes on his two daughters and has given his family wealth and stability, having earned his fortune the hardest way possible.
Yet this immensely brave and eccentric man continues to put his life in danger every time he goes to work when he has no need to.
Maybe it takes a fellow fighter to fully understand Chisora’s mentality.
Joe Calzaghe, one of Britain’s greatest world champions who retired with a perfect 46-0 record, perhaps has the answer.
Calzaghe in a Foreword to Gareth A. Davies’ recently published and highly entertaining and informative book A Call of the Warrior, wrote: “Many people feel the call of the warrior.
“And some of us find ourselves dedicating our lives to fighting in the ring.
“It is a calling although we are not always able to fathom where it comes from.
“But it’s there. To ignore the call of the warrior is to go against ourselves, to deny a deeply fundamental part of what makes us all human.”
Whatever Chisora’s wishes, it must NEVER be allowed to happen
Surely there can be no better way for Chisora to have taken his final bow than the adrenaline high and love he experienced as he walked back to his dressing room last weekend.
The thought of him tangling with a young, fearsome punching tyro like Dubois – it has already been mentioned – sends shivers of fear up and down my spine.
Whatever Chisora’s wishes, it must never be allowed to happen.
Surely Del Boy wouldn’t risk going out being beaten up and counted out?
But then, you can never legislate for Chisora.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
