Wilder: I need Chisora

Deontay Wilder heads into his April 4 showdown with Derek Chisora at London’s O2 Arena convinced the British veteran provides the exact test required to revive his fading career.

The 40-year-old American, now 44 wins out of 49 fixtures, with 43 knockouts, openly stated at a recent London press conference that he requires Chisora’s rugged style more than Chisora needs him. 

In his words, “I’m looking forward to the fight. I need this fight. I need Derek more than he needs me because of what he brings to the table. I need to see where I am. I feel like I’m back. 

“I’ve been broken down and built back up all over again, and here I am, with a smile on my face and my spirit so high that I can fly. And I’m looking forward to it.”

Wilder enters his 50th pro fight off a seventh-round knockout of Tyrrell Herndon last June, following a rough stretch of four losses in five bouts, three by stoppage, against foes like Tyson Fury, Joseph Parker, and Zhilei Zhang.

The Bronze Bomber said his upcoming fight was a “must-win”, specifying, “Not only a win, but I need a devastating win. I need a knockout. That’s what people come to see.” 

Although Wilder has a reputation for being a hard puncher, Chisora is not a pushover by any means and would definitely give him a tough time.

42-year-old Chisora, 36-13, treats the bout as his potential farewell, his 50th outing after recent wins over Gerald Washington, Joe Joyce, and, more recently, Otto Wallin. 

He has squared off with elite names like Fury, Usyk, Parker, Dillian Whyte, and Vitali Klitschko, putting him at a level that satisfies the former WBC champion. 

Chisora kept things light in promotion, joking about their age: “I think because we’re old. He’s 40, I’m in my forties. Can you imagine two grown men right now wrestling on the floor?” According to him, he was approaching the fight, not from the angle of violence, but from a shared love between the two veteran fighters.