'Just stop it' – Tony Bellew delivers full verdict on shock Derek Chisora fight after receiving unexpected call-out from friend

22/08/2024 10:11

Tony Bellew has urged his friend Derek Chisora to stop pestering him about a surprise fight.

Chisora recently defeated Joe Joyce in a stunning upset, and declared he would continue to fight for two more outings before calling time on his all-action career.

On social media after the fight, he released a mock poster of a showdown between himself and Bellew for his next fight in Manchester later this year.

Bellew retired in 2018 after losing to Oleksandr Usyk and responded to Chisora’s tweet with a cryptic reply.

But now he has ensured fans that he has no interest in the clash, although confirmed it has been a long-term goal for Chisora.

He told Instant Casino: "Of course he's serious. He's been saying to me for years, 'We are fighting for my last fight, my 50th fight'.

“Me and Derek go back 20 years. Great mates. He just, he's got this thing in his head that we can have a fight and I'm just like, stop it.

“I've missed a couple of FaceTime calls in the last few days. We spoke when I was on holiday.

“I literally woke him up after the Joe Joyce fight at eight in the morning to make sure he was feeling feeling okay, 'How's your head, everything okay?'

"And he was okay. He's all right. So I love Derek Chisora, but nothing is tempting me to fight him.

“Me putting 10 ounce gloves on and hitting Derek Chisora would not end well. It would not end well."

Chisora has been urged to retire by several prominent figures in the boxing world but is determined to reach the career milestone.

Any clashes are likely to simply have commercial appeal, given he is now unlikely to push for world glory in the late stages of his career.

A showdown with Bellew would of course generate interest, but the local hero insists he won’t ever touch gloves with ‘WAR’.

Several other options could appear for Chisora next, including the lingering possibility of a clash with Deontay Wilder.

A trilogy with Dillian Whyte has also been on the tips of fans’ tongues for several years, but it is unclear if that is possible to make.

British heavyweight Frazer Clarke has also opened the door to a contest.

“Yeah you know the way the sport is anything could happen,” he said.

“Any fights can be made, Derek is someone I look up to and he is certainly a role model of mine.

“For all the right reasons Derek is a bit crazy at times, he is a great fighter and servant to British boxing.

“Yeah, who knows? I could be in the hat for the big fight with Chisora. I’m sure that would be a great fight if it happens.”