Tyson Fury is returning to the ring but it won’t be against Anthony Joshua.
It has been confirmed that the reigning WBC heavyweight champion Fury will defend his world title against former foe Derek Chisora at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on December 3. It will be the third time that the two Britons will have met in the ring, following previous bouts in 2011 and 2014. Fury won both of the previous contests.
Confirmation of the clash might be something of a let-down for boxing fans, given that Chisora has been defeated in three of his past four fights — losing twice to Joseph Parker and once to Oleksandyr Usyk. The 38-year-old won his most recent bout against Kubrat Pulev in July.
Fury, meanwhile, fights for the first time since stopping Dillian Whyte in April.
“I am thrilled to be delivering a Tyson Fury world title defence in front of the British fans in London. Tyson clearly conquered America across his trilogy with Deontay Wilder and there is also huge demand to stage his fights from sites across the world,” said Fury’s promoter Frank Warren.
“Tyson wanted to fight in his home country again this year following his special night at Wembley Stadium in April. This brings us to the magnificent Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a match against an old rival in Derek Chisora. Derek, also a big favourite with British fans, has reinvented himself in recent years and Tyson has long stated his wish to fight him for a third time.”
The fight comes amid the latest crumbling of negotiations between Fury’s representatives and those of Anthony Joshua. Both had appeared close to agreeing terms for the December 3 date but talks were reported to have broken down in recent weeks. It is the third time in as many years that a proposed fight between Fury and Joshua, the two finest British heavyweights of their generation, has fallen apart.
It is expected that Fury will pursue a winner-takes-all showdown with Usyk, holder of the remaining recognised heavyweight tiles, in the new year should he score a third win against Chisora.
“Tyson can’t afford any slip-up in this fight as he has the much-publicised undisputed match-up with Usyk in the new year, which we’re really looking forward to,” added Warren
