In 2016 they had one of the best fights of the year – now they do it again. All the details on Dillian Whyte vs. Dereck Chisora II right here.
This Saturday is a huge day for boxing, with a number of notable fights. Starting off the day is a big Heavyweight rematch when Dillian Whyte (24-1; 17 KOs) meets Dereck Chisora (29-8; 21 KOs). The two met in 2016 in one of the best fights of the year, with Whyte taking a slightly controversial split decision win. Ring Magazine has Whyte at #5 in the division with Chisora outside the top 10. The fight takes place this Saturday, December 22 in the UK with a fight time of 1:00 p.m. ET. It airs on DAZN in the US, and Sky Sports Box Office in the UK.
How do these two stack up?
Whyte: 30 years old | 6’4” | 78” reach | orthodox stance
Chisora: 34 years old | 6’1” | 74” reach | orthodox stance
What have these two done recently?
Whyte: W – Joseph Parker (UD) | W – Lucas Browne (KO) | W – Robert Helenius (UD)
Chisora: W – Carlos Takam (TKO) | W – Zakaria Azzouzi (TKO) | L – Agit Kabayel (MD)
How did these two get here?
Dillian Whyte turned pro in 2011 and went 16-0 before getting a crack at Anthony Joshua in 2015. He lost that fight, as all do (though he gave Joshua the toughest test of his career at that point), and has gone 8-0 since. Included in that run is his 2016 win over Chisora – an all-out war that Whyte survived and won on the cards, though not without some questions. He started out this year with a good win over Lucas Browne, but it was his July victory over Joseph Parker that really turned heads. There, he first out-muscled, then out-boxed the former world champion in a great performance. Parker rocked him late, and another round might have changed things, but it was a terrific showing that added new layers to his game.
In his last fight, the announcers used the term “war horse” to describe Chisora, and that seems particularly apt. The near 12 year veteran has been a staple of the UK Heavyweight scene and has fought a who’s who of opponents there – Tyson Fury, David Haye, Vitali Klitschko (yes, Vitali). He had a run of big marquee fights in 2011/2012, but unfortunately lost all of them. Since then, he’s mostly defeated good but not great opponents, losing against the top 10 opposition he’s faced (including Whyte and Kubrat Pulev). But in July he scored his biggest win in some time, knocking out Carlos Takam in a physical war that he was losing. That fight was a great reminder of Chisora’s power.
What can fans expect?
Their last fight was wild, and you really should check it out before Saturday if you’ve never seen it. It was also a razor-close pick ‘em fight when it ended. If it wasn’t for Whyte vs. Parker, I would anticipate the same thing here and the same close result. But that Parker fight really was a revelation for Whyte, as it showed him able to mix up his normal rough and dirty tactics with some more clean boxing. Look for the same thing here – a dirty, back-alley type of fight at times, but also some moments of true boxing. Those in close moments will be back and forth, with a slight advantage to Whyte (just as Takam had the advantage in his fight with Chisora). But the boxing should be all Whyte, provided the Parker fight wasn’t a one-off fluke. I don’t think it was. Chisora does have that power, and could turn the fight in an instant, so I can’t feel fully confident, but I see Whyte having more tools, wearing the older Chisora down, and putting him away late.
Prediction: Dillian Whyte, TKO R11
Should you watch?
For sure. Styles make fights, and this should be a good one. Plus, the chances are high the winner here moves on to face Joshua in April, so that adds some extra intrigue. Oh, and the UK crowd will be wild too. What’s not to love?
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