Derek Chisora makes retirement U-turn and confirms opponent for next fight

Derek Chisora says he not is retired and will fight for a world title in December.

The 42-year-old lost to Deontay Wilder in a slugfest back in April, a bout that was billed as Chisora’s 50th and final fight after a 19-year career.

However, ‘Delboy’ has now dismissed any suggestion that he had hung up the gloves by revealing in a news conference held by the IBA that he will be returning to the ring to fight Murat Gassiev before the end of the year.

“December will be me versus Gassiev,” said Chisora.

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Derek Chisora was speaking at a press conference held by the IBA in Istanbul (Reuters)

“We’re going to decide where, either in London or Manchester. We’re going to put two belts on the line, I believe, the IBA and the one Gassiev holds.

“What people have to understand is that what the IBA does is unbelievable. I believe this goes deeper than that we’re doing here right now.

“I believe it’s going to get better and better. In December we’ll be fighting.”

Much of the back-end of Chisora’s career has seen the Brit go back on retirement, with a handful of his more recent outings being sold as farewell fights.

Chisora, however, has defended his intention to fight on as he looks to add to his 36 career wins, 23 of which have come by knockout.

“I never said I was retired. They [the organisers] said ’50 last dance’,” he said.

“This is why you’ve got [films like] Rush Hour 1, Rush Hour 2, Coming to America 1, coming to America 2. You understand?

“So this is the Last Dance 3. Listen, trust me, I’m a seller, I sell. That’s my job.”

Gassiev is the current WBA ‘super’ heavyweight world champion, upgraded from ‘regular’ champion when Oleksandr Usyk vacated his belts earlier this year.

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Chisora says he will fight WBA ‘super’ heavyweight world champion Murat Gassiev (Getty)

Chisora has never been a world champion throughout his storied career, failing in bids to dethrone first Vitali Klitschko in 2012 and then Tyson Fury a decade later, both for the WBC belt.

However, the Russian’s status as champion is up in the air amid reports that the WBA will sanction the long-awaited super-fight between Fury and Anthony Joshua as a title fight, putting his belt on the line.

“[The] WBA give me big surprise about my belt,” Gassiev said. “But in press conference when AJ and Fury have face off, I see only Ring Magazine belt, no WBA belt.

“And to be honest right now, I don’t have clear information about this situation. I don’t know. Fight for ‘super’ belt, another belt, I don’t know.

“I check my email. I don’t have any messages, any papers, but I’m not manager, promoter [or] lawyer. I’m fighter. I do my job, that’s it.”