LONDON – Revered boxer Tyson Fury has vowed to set aside a budding friendship with Derek Chisora in order to defeat his fellow Briton on Saturday.
The WBC world heavyweight title is still up for grabs, and Fury is the overwhelming favourite to keep it.
After talks over a highly anticipated matchup with Anthony Joshua fell through, the fight with Chisora at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was decided.
In an effort to unify the heavyweight division, Fury may possibly take on the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk next year, but he assured he would focus solely on the Zimbabwean-born Chisora.
The two, who last squared off in 2014, have grown close in recent years and shook hands on Tuesday in between press appearances.
“You’re going to see Del Boy get knocked sparked out. I’m not playing games. This is not fun and games for me. This is strictly business,” said Fury.
“People say, ‘Oh well, I’m the overwhelming favourite’. But I’m only a man with a chin, and so is he. I could get knocked out and he could get knocked out.
“We can be friends out here and shake hands, go for a burger afterwards, but in here there’s no friends.”
The 38-year-old Chisora now has an unusual last chance to claim the “Gypsy King” thanks to the deadlock between Fury and Joshua’s camps.
