Boxing

DEREK CHISORA has named a heavyweight journeyman with 24 DEFEATS as the hardest puncher he has ever faced.Veteran Chisora, 40, is preparing for his 48th professional bout on Saturday night when he takes on British rival Joe Joyce at the O2.Derek Chisora has fought most of the best heavyweights in his eraCredit: PAChisora has named journeyman Paul Butlin as the hardest puncher he has facedCredit: RexThe Finchley-born fighter has never shied away from any opponent during his career, taking on almost all of the top names across different generations.They have included Tyson Fury three times, Vitali Klitschko, David Haye, Kubrat Pulev twice, Dillian Whyte twice, Carlos Takam, Oleksandr Usyk and Joseph Parker twice.Yet he did not name any of those when quizzed on the biggest puncher he has ever been in the ring with.That accolade goes to retired fighter Paul Butlin, 48, who hung up his gloves in 2016 with a record of 16 wins, 24 losses and one draw.READ MORE ON DEREK CHISORAChisora fought him back in January 2008 in his fourth pro fight and claimed a points victory over four rounds.Yet he now recounts the bout with Butlin, who stopped just four men during his career, as a rather harrowing one.Speaking to talkSPORT, Chisora said: “You remember this guy, Paul Butlin?”He hit me so hard I thought the referee needed to check his gloves.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”I will never forget when he went boom, boom and I’m like ‘God man, somebody needs to check this guy’s gloves’.”I went back to the corner and Don [Charles] [Chisora’s former trainer] told me you need to move, you can’t stand there.Inside Tyson Fury’s Morecambe mansion”The guy was strong and he hit me with a body shot and I was like ‘Nah, I need to box this guy’.”Chisora has insisted he will fight twice more after the Joyce clash as he looks to reach 50 pro bouts.That is despite many in boxing urging him to stop as he has been in countless brutal match-ups during his career.He has won just two of his last six fights, but did have his hand raised last time out in a unanimous decision victory over Gerald Washington back in August.Inside the Gypsy King’s royal courtTYSON FURY is one of the biggest characters in sport. More

DEREK CHISORA, at the age of 40, perhaps would have been much wiser if he had done a Joe Biden a couple of years ago and quit the heavyweight race.The perfect time would have been immediately after Tyson Fury had given him a terrible ten-round belting in 2022.Gutsy Derek Chisora has fought almost every present-day boxing icon there is to fightCredit: PABut SunSport’s Colin Hart claims he should have retired after his loss to Tyson FuryCredit: ReutersJoe Joyce is the 40-year-old’s next opponentCredit: PAIt was another brutal defeat, one of 13 for Chisora in his riotous 17-year, 47-fight career.He has endured a total of 135 torrid rounds against a mob of savage punchers.They include Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, Fury (twice), Joseph Parker (twice), Kubrat Pulev (twice), David Haye and Oleksandr Usyk.Zimbabwe-born Chisora has been one of the most successful, courageous and colourful characters to have graced British rings.READ MORE IN BOXINGHe has won British, Commonwealth and European titles and been a two-time world championship challenger.When I told Chisora he should think seriously about hanging up his gloves, he said he would think about it.It must have been a fleeting thought because Del Boy is still at it.And, no doubt to the delight of his huge ringside following — who don’t take the punches — he tangles with Joe Joyce at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSDerek said: “I listen to nobody — I’m my own boss. I make my own decisions and I do what I want to do.“I only care to bring enjoyment to those hard-working people in this beautiful nation of ours.”Jarrell Miller flips off AJ’s friend Derek Chisora after media workout in Riyadh as AJ feud continuesChisora is an enigma and a maverick, and the fans love him.He is a one-man soap opera, never far from chaos and controversy.Chisora has received a suspended sentence for assaulting a girlfriend and bitten an opponent.He slapped Vitali Klitschko’s face at their weigh-in in Munich and was arrested by German police for brawling with Haye after the fight.He was also banned for throwing a table at Dillian Whyte before their bout.Only last week he took his two daughters to lunch in Hampstead — and head-butted a motorbike delivery rider who was insane enough to attack him after a row outside the restaurant.If this makes Chisora sound like an ogre, nothing could be further from the truth.This religious, devoted father is liked by everyone who meets him.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe has fully earned the rapturous ovation he’s bound to receive when he makes his ring walk.But I sincerely hope that, win, lose or draw against Joyce, he has the sense to make it his last. More

OLEKSANDR USYK has snubbed Anthony Joshua when deciding who has the best attributes out of the opponents he has faced.The undisputed world champion named the likes of Derek Chisora and Tony Bellew during his quizzing.Oleksandr Usyk snubbed Anthony Joshua when picking the best attributes amongst British boxersCredit: GettyThe Ukrainian named Tyson Fury as the toughest opponent he has playedCredit: PAUsyk, 37, has fought 21 opponents at professional level, and has won all 22 of the fights he has had.His bouts cover the cruiserweight and heavyweight division, with his most recent the win over Tyson Fury to become the undisputed heavyweight champion.Usyk named that contest as the most difficult he has had, with Fury taking him to the final bell.The Ukrainian bossed the majority of that fight and secured a knock down, but admitted Fury has the best defence of any boxer he has faced.READ MORE IN BOXINGHe was asked which Brit had the best attribute for multiple categories, and picked Chisora as the hardest puncher he has faced over Joshua.Usyk overlooked Joshua for another category he should have been a shoo-in for – speed.Tony Bellew was Usyk’s pick for that category, as he was best footwork.While Usyk named Fury for best boxing IQ and at least chose not to pick Joshua for the easiest fight category – that dishonour went to Joe Joyce who he beat before turning professional.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSUsyk found Tyson Fury was his toughest opponentSunSport understands Usyk is set to watch two of his former opponents in action when Chisora takes on Joyce.The Gyspy King is also expected to be in attendance which means the heavyweight duo could come face to face for the first time since their fight in May.Everything we know about Fury-Usyk 2 More

TYSON FURY has controversially agreed to keep dad John as part of his corner team for the Oleksandr Usyk rematch.The Gypsy King, 35, suffered his first professional defeat at the hands of the slick Ukrainian as he was beaten by split decision in their undisputed clash in Saudi Arabia two months ago.Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury by split decision in their undisputed clash in MayCredit: GettyFury’s corner was criticised for the advice given to their fighterCredit: AFPBut dad John will remain in his son’s corner for the Usyk rematchCredit: PAFury and Usyk, 37, will meet again for a second time when they run things back in the Middle East on December 21.In the wake of the first fight, the likes of Carl Froch and Fury’s uncle Peter criticised the advice from the corner.Trainer SugarHill Steward, assistant Andy Lee and dad John were all offering their opinion to Fury in between rounds.Father John was at the centre of this criticism, but Tyson does not seem to have listened.READ MORE IN BOXINGAccording to iFL TV, Fury’s manager, Spencer Brown, has confirmed the same three men will work the corner for the rematch.Fury Sr had already raised eyebrows earlier in fight week when he headbutted a member of Usyk’s team and left himself covered in blood.Then he was slammed in the wake of his son’s defeat as former British world champion Froch took aim at his corner work.He told talkSPORT: “When you’ve got three people – including Big John Fury the fighting man – when you’ve got him in the corner shouting and screaming at you while you’ve got two other people giving you advice, that means you’re listening to absolutely nobody.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”I thought that was terrible and really unprofessional in his corner. It was bad.”And uncle Peter, who previously trained Tyson, told October Red: “There should only be one man in the corner, there shouldn’t be three or four.Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois on track to break Tyson Fury’s stunning record at world title fight “Some are too emotional in the corner and some are giving the wrong advice.”I think the only one that spoke a little bit of sense in the last dying stretch of it was SugarHill, who said ‘put it on him’.”When you go into fights, it doesn’t matter who it is, it could be a family member, but you’ve got to give precise clear information, and the thing I always say to the fighter is, ‘Are you listening, do you understand what I’ve just told you to do?’”There were too many people, but maybe Tyson wants that? I don’t know, it’s been years since dealing with me.”I don’t know what the situation is but clearly for me the game plan was wrong and only one should be speaking.”How can you listen to all that? It’s going a bit panicky and it’s all over the place.”Usyk edged Fury in Saudi Arabia and was shown to be superior by the punch stats More