Derek Chisora is approaching his eagerly-anticipated rematch against Joseph Parker with a clear goal in mind: leave the judges out of the equation this time and end the contest with a knockout.
The 37-year-old was left furious by the officials’ decision to award Parker a split-decision victory in their highly competitive affair back in May, despite the Brit scoring a knockdown just seven seconds into the first round.
‘Del Boy’ now has the opportunity to gain revenge as the pair go toe-to-toe once more, again at the Manchester Arena, on December 18, with the veteran heavyweight clearly rejuvenated as he partners up with trainer Dave Coldwell once more.
Coldwell was in Chisora’s corner for his second-round stoppage win over Artur Spilzka in 2019, but the pair split before the initially scheduled match-up against Parker later that year – which was cancelled after the New Zealander was bitten by a spider – due to logistical reasons.
The previously London-based Chisora now spends every Monday to Thursday in Rotherham working under the stewardship of the veteran coach, insisting their partnership is proving fruitful.
Derek Chisora is gunning for a knockout in his rematch against Joseph Parker on December 18
The heavyweight, 37, felt he was robbed as Parker was awarded a split-decision victory in May
‘Training wise it’s been amazing, we’ve got a lot of fighters in there,’ Chisora said during a media call.
‘They always say you don’t finish learning, you learn every day, and if you don’t want to learn every day you’re a fool.
‘I’ve come today to learn more. When I go in the gym, the first day I went back, I told him: “I don’t come with ego or anything, so I will ask you questions like I’m a five-year-old. I’ll go back and back and keep asking you”.
‘He understood that, so training together has been amazing. Everything he wants me to do I’m trying and I’m doing it.’
Chisora is once again working with trainer Dave Coldwell (right) ahead of the Parker fight
Importantly for Chisora, whose performances over the years have tended to fluctuate depending on the significance of the task at hand, the hunger is clearly there.
Of course that’s partially due to the magnitude of the event, but also because he wants the win he feels was rightfully his.
He has openly slammed the British Boxing Board of Control following the first fight in May, insisting he wants an American referee for the rematch, even stating: ‘The only way you win is if Eddie (Hearn) pays the judges and referee for you.’
Yet, while he believes he was robbed last time out, Chisora – who reveals he is sparring significantly younger heavyweights who are trying to ‘take my head off’ - is leaving no stone unturned for the rematch.
Del Boy says he was robbed in May after knocking Parker down seven seconds into the fight
Chisora insists he and Coldwell plan to take the fight out of the judges' hands this time
‘You’re going to see so many changes, we’re going for a stoppage to be honest with you,’ he said. 'I know most people wonder why I’ve been talking about the refs, it’s just one of those things.
‘We know exactly what Joseph’s going to try to do. He’s going to try and come in the later rounds and push his power and
