Why heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is coming out of boxing retirement to face Derek Chisora a third time
The phrase “never say never” comes to mind when it comes to boxing retirement. Tyson Fury, the WBC heavyweight champion, has announced his intention to come out of his short-lived retirement. He’s planning a comeback against a familiar opponent in Derek Chisora.
The 33-year-old also revealed that Isaac Lowe will coach him. Lowe is the WBC Featherweight Champion and has trained with Fury while dating Peter Fury, Ben Davison and SugarHill Steward. Fury last fought in April, defeating Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium. A contract has been drawn up and will be delivered to Chisora. He just has to sign it.
According to ESPN, a clash between the two could take place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. This stadium can hold up to 74,500 people.
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In the week leading up to the Whyte fight, Fury insisted he would be true to his word and withdraw. Fury’s longtime promoter Frank Warren, like many others, believed he would be back in the ring in no time. Timing helps as Oleksandr Usyk is set to defend the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles in a rematch against Anthony Joshua on August 20th.
If Fury returns, the winner of that fight could face him in a highly anticipated clash for the undisputed heavyweight titles.
“I think what’s going to happen is see what happens [August] 20th and the outcome of that and that will determine what he intends to do going forward,” Warren told talkSPORT. “I don’t think that’s from him, it’s from me. I think he will [return] because he’s a fighting man and he misses it. He does, he wants to fight.”
Why is Tyson Fury returning to boxing?
Fury has been very happy to be retiring from the sport he loves. However, like Ric Flair and Pro Wrestling, Fury can’t escape that itch.
The lineal champion was spotted training on social media. He even teased that if he received the right amount, he would return to the sport. When he asked Warren to make it happen, Fury stated he would want around $500 million.
As for why he wants to come out of retirement to face Chisora, Fury said he wants to make history against a known foe.
Breaking News trainer selected for comeback fight with @DerekWarChisora @isaaclowe6 🥊 pic.twitter.com/hjNRv3k5J8
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) August 9, 2022
“I’ve decided to return to boxing because I can be the first heavyweight champion in history to have two trilogies: one with Deontay Wilder and a second with Derek Chisora,” Fury said. “I always said I’d fight Derek Chisora again in my career, and here we are, breaking all records again.”
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Story of Tyson Fury vs. Derek Chisora
Fury has a rich but dominant history against Chisora.
In 2011, Fury fought Chisora for the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles. Both men went into the fight 14-0. It was a unanimous decision win for Fury, who landed 295 shots compared to Chisora’s 115. Fury did well against Chisora, the betting favorite, landing several double-digit shots. Chisora landed single digit shots seven times in the fight. In terms of viewership, the fight peaked at around 3 million viewers.
In 2014, the two competed in a rematch. With the southpaw stance, Fury landed 52 jabs from his 136 shots. Chisora could only muster 53 shots, and his corner stopped the fight at the end of the 10th. Fury won the European, WBC International and British heavyweight titles in the process, and the fight also set him up for a date with then-heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.
Fury’s average stroke volume against Chisora is 70.0 per round via CompuBox.
Since the fight, the two have gone their separate ways. Fury won the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO and The Ring heavyweight titles against Klitschko. He later beat Deontay Wilder for the WBC heavyweight title and competed in a trilogy for the ages. Fury still has the WBC title in his possession.
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Chisora is 1-3 in his last four fights. After losing to Joseph Parker twice in a row, he last fought in July, beating Kubrat Pulev by split decision.
Fury has called out Chisora a few times over the past few months, stating he’s been a chicken for avoiding a trilogy fight. Chisora has since responded to Fury’s message, saying he’s ready whenever the contract is sent to him.
Call mom and dad @frankwarren_tv and @BobArum and stop talking shit. @Tyson_Fury Send me the paperwork bitch #warchisora pic.twitter.com/J92BYBNJru
— Derek Chisora 🥊 (@DerekWarChisora) August 9, 2022
The offer was extended by Goldstar Promotions via ESPN. Promotions Fury has previously worked with include Top Rank and Queensberry promotions. It is unknown if he would work with both promotions for this fight.