BoxRec

Heavyweight contender Dereck Chisora has discussed the possibility that he might enter the cage for mixed martial arts company Bellator - while waiting for a new date for his postponed bout with former unified cruiserweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Chisora was due to face Usyk this month at O2 Arena in London, but the fight was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As of now, there is no new date or location for the fight. And it might be a long wait, as both sides believe their showdown should have a crowd.

Chisora has been out of the ring since October, when he stopped David Price in four rounds.

Depending on when the new date for the Usyk fight comes down, Chisora may entertain the possibility of making his MMA debut.

Several boxers, like Heather Hardy, have entered the cage for Bellator in recent years.

“We’re just waiting for lockdown to finish so we can see how many people we can have in the O2,” Chisora told the PA news agency.

“I think this fight needs fans. Some fights don’t but certain fights need fans and this is one where you need people to enjoy it. If the wait is longer I can jump in to Bellator. We’re waiting to see the date they give us for Usyk but if there’s a bigger gap we’re going to jump in to Bellator straight away.”

If Chisora can beat Usyk, who is currently the mandatory challenger under the WBO, that victory could set up a showdown with unified champion Anthony Joshua. Chisora, however, is not looking that far ahead.

“It would be a great fight, two local guys from north London,” Chisora said. “If it happens, it happens, but for now I’m just focusing on Usyk, focusing on the southpaw, and training for that guy.

“AJ has got to fight (Kubrat) Pulev. We’ve all got different paths right now but we never know what’s going to happen.”

Honestly, what is this fascination with boxers wanting to try themselves in MMA?
I suspect that it provides a bit of news interest and keeps their name relevant but I just don't get it...

Although I have heard that Michael van Gerwen has said that if Premier League darts doesn't start up soon, he's moving into archery.

milpool wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 04:41 Honestly, what is this fascination with boxers wanting to try themselves in MMA?
I suspect that it provides a bit of news interest and keeps their name relevant but I just don't get it...

Although I have heard that Michael van Gerwen has said that if Premier League darts doesn't start up soon, he's moving into archery.

They're fighters and they want to have fights.

Chisora just wants to get paid.

Cyclops wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 06:53

milpool wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 04:41 Honestly, what is this fascination with boxers wanting to try themselves in MMA?
I suspect that it provides a bit of news interest and keeps their name relevant but I just don't get it...

Although I have heard that Michael van Gerwen has said that if Premier League darts doesn't start up soon, he's moving into archery.

They're fighters and they want to have fights.

He's a boxer not an MMA fighter, I'm sure that he could find a 6 rounder on a small hall show somewhere in the world if he wanted a fight that badly.

Cyclops wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 06:53

milpool wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 04:41 Honestly, what is this fascination with boxers wanting to try themselves in MMA?
I suspect that it provides a bit of news interest and keeps their name relevant but I just don't get it...

Although I have heard that Michael van Gerwen has said that if Premier League darts doesn't start up soon, he's moving into archery.

They're fighters and they want to have fights.

From his previous history that would make his Mrs worried

I’d imagine it will look a bit like Julius Francis trying Cage Rage.

Boxers without mma, and more importantly wrestling and submission training don't fare too well.

But the bellator hw scene is poor and Chisora with small gloves would be terrifying.

However Chisora isn't a huge name even in boxing and certainly not a star who is well known outside of the sport so I can't see bellator breaking the bank to get him.

He would have to be matched with a basic very very average brawler. Any pro heavy in little gloves is dangerous but if you put him in with anyone that can wrestle a bit then chisora has 10 seconds to land that knockout punch befor he is on his back and it’s all over. Anyone that can leg kick puts him in a pickle too. Got 1 or 2 tries to counter it with a good punch after that he’s hopping.

These crossovers can happen but they won’t be big and I think they need rules that meet in the middle, or very very limited MMA guys.
I personally think for it to be competitive if your trying to cross over against anyone decent it’s gunna have to be little gloves, cages, elbows, no kicks or knees, or submitions but with clinching allowed.

Really the best option is a big boxing based mma guys box against an old old past prime boxer or a popular but not top level guy.. Like Francis nganu vs Lucas brown... or Dave Allen.
Or give away tons of weight like a nganu vs canelo....

Chizza shouldn't waste time on the MMA cobblers. Boxing should be back in the Autumn, where he can muller Usyk

Bellator is really good at building (most) of their prospects, ie feeding them cans.

If anyone could make Chisora look like a monster in the cage it would be Bellator. Then he could be highly overrated in two sports!

punchoutsb wrote: ↑02 Jun 2020, 18:59 Bellator is really good at building (most) of their prospects, ie feeding them cans.

If anyone could make Chisora look like a monster in the cage it would be Bellator. Then he could be highly overrated in two sports!

Highly overrated in boxing? He gets called a journeyman /gatekeeper all the time, not sure I've really seen many people rate him very high at all

It'd be cool to see Chisora do a fight or two in Bellator, and then get back to Boxing. Why not.

I'm not a particularly big fan of the guy, but I'd be rooting for him to knock somebody out in an MMA match just because it's cool to see Boxers do well in MMA.

IRONFIST wrote: ↑02 Jun 2020, 08:51 Chizza shouldn't waste time on the MMA cobblers. Boxing should be back in the Autumn, where he can muller Usyk

Now that’s a prediction. Do you really think he’s gonna do that to Usyk?

Delta Jay wrote: ↑03 Jun 2020, 01:03

IRONFIST wrote: ↑02 Jun 2020, 08:51 Chizza shouldn't waste time on the MMA cobblers. Boxing should be back in the Autumn, where he can muller Usyk

Now that’s a prediction. Do you really think he’s gonna do that to Usyk?

Yes I do, why? Simple, apart from being too big and too strong for Usyk, Chizza's come forward war style of boxing is all wrong for Usyk who is a slow starter, we even saw that in the Bellew fight. Technically Usyk is very good but the heavyweight division is a whole different kettle of fish to cruiser, now I know you will point out Evander Holyfield but Usyk is not in the same class, I expect Chizza to stop him mid to late rounds

IRONFIST wrote: ↑03 Jun 2020, 06:54

Delta Jay wrote: ↑03 Jun 2020, 01:03

Now that’s a prediction. Do you really think he’s gonna do that to Usyk?

Yes I do, why? Simple, apart from being too big and too strong for Usyk, Chizza's come forward war style of boxing is all wrong for Usyk who is a slow starter, we even saw that in the Bellew fight. Technically Usyk is very good but the heavyweight division is a whole different kettle of fish to cruiser, now I know you will point out Evander Holyfield but Usyk is not in the same class, I expect Chizza to stop him mid to late rounds

Have to disagree, Usyk uses mobile pressure which makes it harder to use strength/size against him. You can see something similar with Loma vs Linares/Campbell etc.

He’s also good enough to let a few rounds go early on while he has a good look at his opponent, before he starts turning the screw. A fighter who lacks nuance like Del will make that process easier.

The thing is, Usyk isn’t just “technically very good” he’s light years ahead of any active heavyweight not named Tyson.

Delta Jay wrote: ↑03 Jun 2020, 07:15

IRONFIST wrote: ↑03 Jun 2020, 06:54

Yes I do, why? Simple, apart from being too big and too strong for Usyk, Chizza's come forward war style of boxing is all wrong for Usyk who is a slow starter, we even saw that in the Bellew fight. Technically Usyk is very good but the heavyweight division is a whole different kettle of fish to cruiser, now I know you will point out Evander Holyfield but Usyk is not in the same class, I expect Chizza to stop him mid to late rounds

Have to disagree, Usyk uses mobile pressure which makes it harder to use strength/size against him. You can see something similar with Loma vs Linares/Campbell etc.

He’s also good enough to let a few rounds go early on while he has a good look at his opponent, before he starts turning the screw. A fighter who lacks nuance like Del will make that process easier.

The thing is, Usyk isn’t just “technically very good” he’s light years ahead of any active heavyweight not named Tyson.

Well we'll see who's right if we get boxing back up soon. Don't forget Richie Woodhall technically very good but neutralised when punched in the face etc.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑02 Jun 2020, 20:22 It'd be cool to see Chisora do a fight or two in Bellator, and then get back to Boxing. Why not.

I'm not a particularly big fan of the guy, but I'd be rooting for him to knock somebody out in an MMA match just because it's cool to see Boxers do well in MMA.

Which boxers have done well in MMA?

Mark Potter did OK.

IRONFIST wrote: ↑03 Jun 2020, 08:06

Delta Jay wrote: ↑03 Jun 2020, 07:15

Have to disagree, Usyk uses mobile pressure which makes it harder to use strength/size against him. You can see something similar with Loma vs Linares/Campbell etc.

He’s also good enough to let a few rounds go early on while he has a good look at his opponent, before he starts turning the screw. A fighter who lacks nuance like Del will make that process easier.

The thing is, Usyk isn’t just “technically very good” he’s light years ahead of any active heavyweight not named Tyson.

Well we'll see who's right if we get boxing back up soon. Don't forget Richie Woodhall technically very good but neutralised when punched in the face etc.

Of course, that’s why they fight the fights

asmund wrote: ↑03 Jun 2020, 09:58 Mark Potter did OK.

True good shout, he was at a good level in both sports.

Wee Tommy wrote: ↑03 Jun 2020, 08:12

gilgamesh wrote: ↑02 Jun 2020, 20:22 It'd be cool to see Chisora do a fight or two in Bellator, and then get back to Boxing. Why not.

I'm not a particularly big fan of the guy, but I'd be rooting for him to knock somebody out in an MMA match just because it's cool to see Boxers do well in MMA.

Which boxers have done well in MMA?

Ray Mercer knocked out former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia in seconds. That's doing pretty good I'd say.

There's really not too many other Boxers that have done well, and for the most part I can't imagine they would. Everybody just knows to take 'em down right away, and get 'em out of their comfort zone.

Personally, I'd like to see crossover matches between Boxers and MMA guys in a Kickboxing setting, but that's a different discussion.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑03 Jun 2020, 11:57

Wee Tommy wrote: ↑03 Jun 2020, 08:12

Which boxers have done well in MMA?

Ray Mercer knocked out former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia in seconds. That's doing pretty good I'd say.

There's really not too many other Boxers that have done well, and for the most part I can't imagine they would. Everybody just knows to take 'em down right away, and get 'em out of their comfort zone.

Personally, I'd like to see crossover matches between Boxers and MMA guys in a Kickboxing setting, but that's a different discussion.

I reckon with a good year or so training in wrestling, Thai boxing and submission defence some top level boxers, ones with power anyway, could do very well in MMA.

I know the financial incentive isn’t there yet.

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑02 Jun 2020, 19:01

punchoutsb wrote: ↑02 Jun 2020, 18:59 Bellator is really good at building (most) of their prospects, ie feeding them cans.

If anyone could make Chisora look like a monster in the cage it would be Bellator. Then he could be highly overrated in two sports!

Highly overrated in boxing? He gets called a journeyman /gatekeeper all the time, not sure I've really seen many people rate him very high at all

It hasn't always been 2020. Del Boy used to be extremely overrated on here. People thought he was a contender for a while...

gilgamesh wrote: ↑03 Jun 2020, 11:57

Wee Tommy wrote: ↑03 Jun 2020, 08:12

Which boxers have done well in MMA?

Ray Mercer knocked out former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia in seconds. That's doing pretty good I'd say.

There's really not too many other Boxers that have done well, and for the most part I can't imagine they would. Everybody just knows to take 'em down right away, and get 'em out of their comfort zone.

Personally, I'd like to see crossover matches between Boxers and MMA guys in a Kickboxing setting, but that's a different discussion.

Big Timmy got caught, but don't forget that after that Mercer got tapped very quickly by Kimbo Slice who was himself still an mma novice.

It's going to be very hard for Bellator to find someone he can face with absolutely no grappling experience to guarantee him a win.