Joseph Parker vs. Derek Chisora - May 1, 2021

[candyslim]

Don't get me wrong, I think a lot of Dereck, but what quality wins has he had, remind me?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Don't get me wrong, I think a lot of Dereck, but what quality wins has he had, remind me?

He hasn’t has he?

What’s his best name win?

[candyslim]

That's rather my point. Malik Scott was quite impressive at the time, and wins over Gerber, Pala, Johnson pretty respectable. Filipovic looked better at the time than with hindsight. Szpilka and Price are well known if not exactly fear inspiring, I guess you'd have say Takam was his best win and Del was taking a shellacking before Takam ran out of steam and got poleaxed by a great finisher, it has to be said.

Dereck's other notable opponents beat him, some closely, some controversially. "Loser to the stars" was what one former poster used to call him not without justification I'd say.

[margaret thatcher]

He very clearly shouldve got the win over helenius, though that was like a decade ago now wasnt it. im not sure why an obviously crooked decision should make the performance (the actual action) less impressive

i did think he won the ifrst whyte fight but it was close enough to go either way and he didnt get it. got laid cold in the rematch

he has some solid 2nd/3rd tier type of wins, but quite clearly isnt a someone to beat top opponents.

[margaret thatcher]

that said, what wins of parkers really put him much above chisora? the ruiz fight and that's it?

chisora did just as well vs takam and whyte as parker did

parker himself has looked meh a number of times, including last fight when he could hardly land a clean shot on junior fa

[candyslim]

Helenius and Whyte were those I had in mind when I said "controversialiy" and Pulev and Kabayel "closely".

Parker's stock has fallen steadily. At its peak he had a win, at least officially, over Andy Ruiz Jnr. who knowledgeable boxing fans knew to be a quality heavyweight. He was the only man to go the distance with AJ and was prevented by an overzealous referee from making it an inside fight in order to overcome Joshua's advantages in height and reach {yes I'm aware AJ has the better inside game} and even in losing closely to Whyte, he was disorientated and damaged by being illegally floored by Dillian's head. That was hopefully an accident, but it cost Joe rounds, yet even so he came within a whisker of stopping Dillian in the final moments.

Now look at him: The quality of opposition has since dropped off a cliff and his last fight was against a relative novice who was given only a glimmer of a chance by those who considered their four amateur meetings as at all relevant. Fa's previous professional displays were underwhelming to put it kindly, yet he gave Parker all sorts of problems. I had considered Parker a solid top six heavyweight since he became WBO champion but now I regard him as just inside or just outside the top ten.

His reputation has declined so far that a fight with Dereck Chisora (oft beaten, no elite level wins) is regarded as a highly competitive contest. It's not too late for Joe to get back what he's lost but he needs some impressive performances starting right about now with Delboy.

[Thomastearns]

Parker is indeed in a difficult place now.

The almost inevitable lack of focus that tends to accumulate over time places him at serious risk of losing to Chisora.

I'm sure Joseph Parker will try his best to get back to basics, but is it already too late for him?

[nmhz]

Helenius and Whyte were those I had in mind when I said "controversialiy" and Pulev and Kabayel "closely".

Parker's stock has fallen steadily. At its peak he had a win, at least officially, over Andy Ruiz Jnr. who knowledgeable boxing fans knew to be a quality heavyweight. He was the only man to go the distance with AJ and was prevented by an overzealous referee from making it an inside fight in order to overcome Joshua's advantages in height and reach {yes I'm aware AJ has the better inside game} and even in losing closely to Whyte, he was disorientated and damaged by being illegally floored by Dillian's head. That was hopefully an accident, but it cost Joe rounds, yet even so he came within a whisker of stopping Dillian in the final moments.

Now look at him: The quality of opposition has since dropped off a cliff and his last fight was against a relative novice who was given only a glimmer of a chance by those who considered their four amateur meetings as at all relevant. Fa's previous professional displays were underwhelming to put it kindly, yet he gave Parker all sorts of problems. I had considered Parker a solid top six heavyweight since he became WBO champion but now I regard him as just inside or just outside the top ten.

His reputation has declined so far that a fight with Dereck Chisora (oft beaten, no elite level wins) is regarded as a highly competitive contest. It's not too late for Joe to get back what he's lost but he needs some impressive performances starting right about now with Delboy.

Great analysis Slim

In my opinion JP hasn’t had an impressive win since 2015. The Takam fight was a good win in 2016 but he gassed hard and barely made it 12 rounds. Most fights since then have had some sort of controversy or sub-par opponents. I really hope his new trainer can bring something out of him because as Slim said his reputation is rapidly declining

[candyslim]

Thanks nmhz. Very kind of you to say so.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Chisora will be trained by Buddy McGirt for this fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Derek Chisora has teamed up with new trainer Buddy McGirt ahead of heavyweight clash against Joseph Parker

New trainer Buddy McGirt will oversee Derek Chisora's preparations for his crucial heavyweight clash with former WBO champion Joseph Parker on May 1, live on Sky Sports Box Office

Derek Chisora has teamed up with new trainer Buddy McGirt ahead of next month's crucial heavyweight clash against Joseph Parker.

Chisora had previously worked with Steve Broughton for his battling points defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in October, but respected American McGirt will now oversee the British contender's preparations for Parker on May 1, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Announcing his trainer on social media, Chisora wrote: 'Building on the team, preparing for war!'



McGirt most recently trained Sergey Kovalev, the former WBO light-heavyweight champion, and also previously guided the career of Sky Sports expert Matthew Macklin.

Chisora can propel himself back into contention for a world title fight, if he defeats Parker next month.

He recently said: "I'm looking forward to the fight, I cannot wait to get back in the ring! I love fighting, it is what I love the most.

"Good luck to Joseph Parker and his new team, we shall see you for WAR on May 1!"

[Ruthless-RKO]

McGirt: Chisora Must Keep The Heat on Parker in Every Round

Buddy McGirt, the new head trainer of heavyweight veteran Derek Chisora, is backing his fighter to break the will of former WBO world champion Joseph Parker.

The boxers will collide on May 1, with DAZN and Sky Sports Box Office carrying the event.

Parker has picked up four wins since his decision loss to Dillian Whyte in 2018 - in a fight where Parker was an inch away from stopping Whyte in the twelfth and final round.

Both Chisora and Parker retained new trainers since their last ring outings.

Earlier this year, Parker struggled in his decision win over domestic rival Junior Fa. He parted ways with longtime coach Kevin Barry and hired former world champion Andy Lee, who works with several boxers including WBC world champion Tyson Fury.

Chisora lost a competitive decision to Oleksandr Usyk last fall. He recently hired veteran trainer McGrirt, who is also a former world champion.

"I mean it's not going to be an easy task, but we've just got to keep the heat on him," McGirt told Sky Sports. "It's not a secret. Keep the pressure and the heat on, and make him uncomfortable, every second of every round.

"If you try to stay on the outside with Parker, he'll eat your lunch box. He'll tear you up. But if you put that heat on him and make it hot in the kitchen, it's a different ball game. I can tell you, he's got the right nickname, 'War'. He's very unique, he just wants to rumble. The key is to get him to rumble in a smarter way, that can just make it better for him.

"I don't see him as a challenge [to train]. I think it's communication. You can tell somebody something, but if you tell them and show them, that's the difference. If you can't show the guy, his confidence isn't going to be the best in you."

[The Gratest]

McGirt's dismantling of Simon Brown was a masterful boxing display. Not sure if he can turn Chizza into such a clinical technician. Work with what he's got though and build on it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

McGirt's dismantling of Simon Brown was a masterful boxing display. Not sure if he can turn Chizza into such a clinical technician. Work with what he's got though and build on it.

Hope we see a new Parker.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Joseph Parker reveals reason for trainer change ahead of Dereck Chisora bout

New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker 28-2 (21) has opened up about his change of trainers ahead of his fight against Dereck Chisora 32-10 (23) at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England on Saturday night.

The 29-year-old former WBO heavyweight champion split from his longtime trainer Kevin Barry following his 12-round unanimous decision win over previously undefeated countryman Junior Fa 19-1 (10) at Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand in February.

Parker deferred to his friend Tyson Fury 30-0-1 (21) when it came time to choose a new coach. The WBC champion is co-trained by his cousin, former WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee, alongside Sugarhill Steward.

“I thought about Tyson and the changes he has made in trainers so I sent him a text and asked if I could ask him some questions,” Parker said to the Daily Star.

“He gave me a call, he said he really rates Andy in the top three trainers he has worked with.

“With the names he has worked with, that is a great recommendation.

“The next thing I was on Zoom calls with Andy, three or four calls later we were starting to make this plan and six days later I was on a plane flying to Ireland, so things happened really quick.

“There was nothing wrong with the old camp, I just needed something different.”

Parker, who usually trains out of Las Vegas, says moving his camp to Dublin has refreshed the way he prepares.

“Tyson trains very hard. I thought that my level was high – well it is high – but when I trained alongside Tyson I could see the difference,” said Parker.

“Andy said it was a great move just to be around the energy that he has, just to see how he works.

“I did some body sparring with Tyson, he did 15 rounds one day, he is a beast.

“There’s something about him, his energy, it lifts you.

“I feel like we connected from the beginning.

“This feels like the beginning of my career again.

“I feel like you’re going to see a refreshed me.”

Meanwhile, Chisora says he would have won the WBO belt if he had the same chance to face Andy Ruiz Jr 33-2 (22) for the same vacant title in his home country that Parker had.

The Kiwi defeated the future unified champion by majority decision in Auckland in December 2019.

“If I had boxed for the title he won in New Zealand, I would have won it as well,” Chisora said to the Mirror.

“There’s not much really happening in New Zealand.

“If that fight was on a different continent he’d have lost it because when Ruiz was bringing the heat on and pushing the fight… it went Joe’s way because it was his show.

“But really and truly I’ve got respect for Joe and I don’t have anything bad to say about Joe because he hasn’t done anything bad in the sport.

“He has been given fights and he has fought those fights.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Haye: Usyk's Team Told Me They Thought Chisora Had Won

David Haye, manager of heavyweight contender Derek Chisora, claims the team behind Oleksandr Usyk admitted that Chisora could have been the winner last October.

Usyk, in his second fight as a heavyweight, won a twelve round unanimous decision based on two tight scorecards and one wider card.

Two judges saw it 115-113, while a third had Usyk a little more ahead with 117-112.

"We've had many, many moments over the years," Haye told Sky Sports. "The high point for me, was the final bell against Oleksandr Usyk, in his last fight. He really pushed it and I was sitting with Usyk's team and they all looked at me and said: 'Derek has won that fight.'

"They were scoring it, they had Derek winning by one or two rounds, and they said it was a close fight, but we definitely feel Derek won that fight. I thought he won the fight as well, although the judges had it the other way."

Chisora is back on Saturday night in a crossroads fight against former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker.

The winner will likely move a big step forward when it comes to a potential world title shot in the next twelve months.

Haye believes Chisora has a lot of life left in his body based on the performance against Usyk.

"Derek Chisora, who has lost 10 professional fights now, was able to push the No 1 contender in the world at heavyweight to the absolute limit and lose on such a fine margin," Haye said.

"That showed to me that okay, everyone thought he was going to get his head boxed off, that he was going to get absolutely annihilated, and he didn't. It was because he did what he needed to do in those training sessions to give himself the best chance. Although it was a lowlight, it was still a highlight to know that it can be done. He was very close. Hopefully what we missed out on last time, we'll be able to go that little bit further."

[margaret thatcher]

lol only a total fanny thinks chizzy won that

[candyslim]

Delboy acquitted himself very well, made life uncomfortable for Usyk and caused a rethink to anybody who felt Usyk would (as opposed to could) undoubtedly have a major impact on the world heavyweight title situation.

Chiisora did those things but he didn't win the fight and it wasn't even close.

[Enlightened-One]

lol only a total fanny thinks chizzy won that

Usyk beat Chisora fair-and-square, but some of the British boxing insiders and media pundits (that were ringside i.e. Tony Bellew) felt that ‘Del Boy’ should have won the fight. Wrongly, in my eyes, but they did.

I only gave Dereck one round, but I understand the reason why many felt that Chisora could have won four (rounds 1, 2, 4 & 9 - due to preferring to reward the aggressor, rather than his negative-minded elusive opponent).

Usyk’s footwork and lateral movement looked marvellous against Chisora, but it was clear he doesn’t like being on the receiving end of body blows. That’s his Achilles heel!

He kept moaning to the ref about legit body blows. And the Sky’s pundits picked up on this during their pre-fight analysis. It really does seem to be a chink in his armour.

Oleksandr was also too “safety-first” and reluctant to even attempt to close the show, by planting his feet, but he refuses to do so.

In my eyes, Usyk doesn’t look good enough to beat the likes of AJ, Fury, Ruiz Jr. and Whyte though.

He looked very ordinary and beatable against Chisora, even if he did clearly in the fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[gregregegg]

So dericks coach is just out there telling people the plan is to hit him low... (not dick shots but hips and thighs), Surely parkers team will see this and bring it up with the ref befor the fight. Getting that pre warning in is nice for parker, and if derrick gets one or 2 real warnings then that realy could mess with his natral flow and body punching.

[Enlightened-One]

So dericks coach is just out there telling people the plan is to hit him low... (not dick shots but hips and thighs), Surely parkers team will see this and bring it up with the ref befor the fight. Getting that pre warning in is nice for parker, and if derrick gets one or 2 real warnings then that realy could mess with his natral flow and body punching.

Unless it's Tyson Fury, I don't take pre-fight claims about strategy seriously.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Evander]

Parker -188
Chisora +150

Almost a pick em fight

[Ruthless-RKO]

Joseph Parker: I'll Be Sharper, With Better Movement, Better Footwork

Joseph Parker hopes that a win over Derek Chisora at the AO Arena, Manchester this Saturday May 1, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in all markets excluding the UK, Ireland, China, New Zealand and Samoa, will kickstart his route back to the top of the Heavyweight division.

Former WBO World Champion Parker (28-2, 21 KOs) is fresh off a hard-fought 12-round decision over long-time amateur nemesis Junior Fa at Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand that settled an 11-year old rivalry with his compatriot.

Ranked at No.3 with the WBO, Parker recently teamed up with former Middleweight World Champion Andy Lee, and the 29-year-old knows an impressive stoppage of the teak-tough Chisora would propel him closer to his ambition of becoming a two-time World Champion.

“I’m very prepared for this fight, I’ve had a great training camp with Andy in Ireland, then we moved over to Morecambe and got some great sparring under our belt, great pad work, bag, everything," said Parker. "I feel like with this fight, physically and mentally, I’m in a great place – probably the best I’ve been in a while.

"You will see some good changes. I'll be sharper, with better movement and better footwork. I'll be focused for the whole fight. If I execute the game-plan that Andy has put in place, it should be a good night for Team Parker. I expect Derek to be Derek - to apply pressure from the beginning, throwing punches and bombs.

“Two totally different styles, Junior Fa’s style was move and hug, punch every now and then. With Derek it’s no secret, he’s going to come forward and apply the pressure, throw punches everywhere. My hands are going to have to be up, down and all around.

"I've been a World Champion before and I want to be World champion again. In order to achieve that goal I have to get Derek out of the way first. Then set up the other fights that are out there. We've done everything we can to prepare for whatever he brings.

“I think this is the perfect fight at the right time. We’re right there, get a good victory and there’s many other great fights out there to be made and to position yourself when the titles are free to fight for. This is a big card, not only the main event but the undercard fights are very exciting, I’m looking forward to Saturday.”