After a nasty spider bite put a halt to their scheduled bout in 2019, Dereck Chisora and Joseph Parker have verbally agreed to fight on May 1, even going as far as to “pinkie promise” on it (virtually, of course).
The two heavyweights, clearly on good terms with one another despite their impending showdown, shared a FaceTime together on Thursday night and both showed their willingness to get the bout, likely to be in the UK, over the line.
"I've been trying to get hold of you!”, Chisora bellowed to Parker, who were both putting in a shift in at the gym at the time of call.
"I'm ready to go. How about you? I'm ready to rock and roll so you tell me."
“I'm ready to rock and roll too, seriously. I'm ready to go. I'm looking forward to seeing you soon because you entertain," replied Parker.
"Pinkie promise?", countered Chisora.
"Promise. I'm ready to come and have a great fight with you."
The two were meant to fight in October 2019 but the bout was forced to be cancelled when Parker was made ill after suffering a spider bite in his native New Zealand. Now though it looks like the fight will finally go ahead this year and it promises to be a fascinating affair.
Parker was last in action on February 27, when he took on fellow Kiwi Junior Fa in Auckland in what was billed as the biggest boxing match in New Zealand. The former WBO world champion came away with a unanimous decision win over his long-time domestic rival but question marks were raised over the 29-year-old’s performance, not least from Chisora himself who believed Parker was still trying to find his best self after a year out.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Del Boy said of the Parker-Fa fight, "The fight was not great. The simple reason for that was they didn't spar a lot. They were not in shape, they didn't train hard enough. There was no fear factor for both of them.
"Parker did what he needed to win. This was his comeback fight after a year. He's just getting into his stride."
Chisora last fought in November, giving Oleksandr Usyk a tough night at the office despite losing on the cards, and the British heavyweight will likely prove to be a stern test for Parker as he looks to earn another shot at the world title.
