Matchmaker and long-time cornerman Dean Powell believes that 9-1 underdog Dereck Chisora is a very serious candidate to emerge as only the eighth Brit to hold a recognised world heavyweight championship when he fronts up to WBC heavyweight king Vitali Klitschko in Munich’s Olympiahalle on Saturday night, live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 456/Virgin Ch. 546) from 8pm.
‘I’ve been with Dereck since Day One as a pro and I think he’s got a great chance, I really do,’ claims the Black Country born fight face.
‘He’s got great belief in himself, is mentally very strong and, when he gets into his head that he’s going to do something, invariably he does it. He thrives on a challenge. He’ll really come into his element.’
‘Del Boy’, a former ABA super-heavyweight champion in 2006, looked light years short of dominating the world when he conceded his British and Commonwealth belts to Wilmslow’s Tyson Fury, a man of similar lofty physical dimensions to Comrade Klitschko, at Wembley Arena less than seven months back. But Powell warns us to expect a different beast to emerge in Bavaria this weekend.
He says: ‘Trust me, you can discount the Fury loss. Dereck had a lot of issues, personal problems and, in the last week of preparation, he ate himself out of the fight. Dereck’s very Tysonesque, you’re never sure what’s going to turn up but, right now, his head’s clear, he’s in great shape physically and he’s ready to go.
‘He’s a bright fella who’s learned from his losses. The Fury defeat taught him never to turn up out of condition and the Helenius farce simply bolstered his belief that he’s capable of doing 12 rounds at a fast pace with a very big guy.
‘Vitali’s very experienced and he’s going to be roared on by a very big crowd but he’s been inactive and he’s getting on. Dereck’s a far better fighter than he’s given credit for; he’s a very underrated combination puncher, showed against Sam Sexton that he’s a good finisher when he has a man hurt and he’s a brave bastard. Like Lennox Lewis said: ‘With heavyweights, it only takes one shot.’
The Bigger They Are… Klitschko v Chisora is live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 456/ Virgin Ch. 546) on Saturday 18th February. Join at www.boxnation.tv
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