DEREK CHISORA will have his entire sparring team personally quarantined and banned from partying ahead of his Oleksandr Usyk fight to shield him from coronavirus.
The 36-year-old Finchley hardman and his Ukrainian heavyweight rival both wore masks, gloves and plenty of hand sanitiser to announce their May 23, O2 fight on Friday.
Derek Chisora is going to extra special lengths ahead of his May 23 fight with Oleksandr UsykCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
The Ukrainian was spotted spraying disinfectant on stage as the pair went face-to-faceCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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And manager David Haye revealed the team will be going to extra-special lengths to protect the man nicknamed “War” from a pandemic attack.
American Bryant Jennings has already flown in to join Chisora’s Vauxhall-based camp and he will be one of a handful of training partners banned from enjoying London’s bright lights to protect the star attraction
The Hayemaker said: “All the sparring partners are going to be quarantined in their flat, among themselves, they’re going to come to the gym and then back to their flat.
“They’re not allowed to go out partying. They’re here to work for Derek, to give Derek the best opportunity.
“They can’t be going out, getting sick and bringing that into the gym. It’s a serious situation – we don’t know how bad it’s going to get.
“We’re going to have as many as we can get – probably five or six different guys, trying to keep them fresh. Fast guys who move, cruiserweights, heavyweights, trying to mix it up.”
Haye and Chisora have both refused to panic buy and stockpile toilet roll but they did try and fail to get insurance for their mega-money training camp.
Preparations for a pay-per-view fight could run into the hundreds of thousands of pounds, with coaches, cornermen, sparring partners, travel, nutrition and promotion fees all piling up.
Usyk and Chisora both wore masks at the press conferenceCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
But, because Covid-19 is deemed an act of God, Chisora will be whacked in the pocket if the fight falls through.
Haye said: “You can’t insure it. I looked into it as soon as this kicked off but there is no insurance so it’s a calculated risk.
“It costs a lot of money for a training camp but, as a professional, you have to do it.
“You could save the money and not train and wait until it’s 100 per cent certain.
“But it might be a week before the fight and then it’s great you’re fighting but you’re not in shape.”
Haye, like promoter Eddie Hearn, dreads the idea of fighting behind closed doors, with fans banned to prevent the illness spreading.
And they agree that Chisora’s warrior-like style, in another fight he is the underdog in, needs a raucous local crowd to back him.
Derek Chisora to face Oleksandr Usyk in huge heavyweight clash at the O2 Arena on May 23
The former undisputed cruiserweight champ took a selfie with Del Boy’s manager David HayeCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Haye has confirmed that Derek Chisora WILL keep training – despite postponement riskCredit: Reuters
The former cruiser and heavyweight champ said: “He likes the crowd, the cauldron, that intensity of a big event and to get a big fight you need the noise.
“He thrives on the crowd, being the underdog he gets a lot of support so to have no support, no noise from the crowd, I don’t think it would help his style as his style is about coming forward.
“It’s not about being quiet and thinking about everything it’s about getting stuck in.”
Dereck Chisora drafts in old sparring partner Bryant Jennings to help him prepare for huge Oleksandr Usyk fight
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
