Derek Chisora has emerged as a shock contender to fight for the WBA Super Heavyweight title despite Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua previously being considered for the elevated belt.
Chisora, who had promised to retire after his 50th fight against Deontay Wilder, emerged in Turkey this week to confirm his desire to fight on.
The British heavyweight appeared alongside IBA President Umar Kremlev at a press conference in Istanbul, where it was announced that Chisora will return on an IBA event in England in December.
“We promised him a bout,” Kremlev said. “So we are going to organise a bout for Derek in England.”
Chisora added: “In December we’ll be fighting.”
No opponent has been confirmed, but the accompanying announcement immediately threw WBA heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev into the mix.
And that is where an already complicated heavyweight title situation becomes even more interesting.
Chisora vs Gassiev
Gassiev’s team has already made its dissatisfaction with the WBA situation surrounding Fury vs Joshua clear.
When the possibility of an elevated WBA championship being attached to the December 11 super fight emerged, Gassiev’s co-promoter Ivaylo Gotzev questioned why another heavyweight championship was required.
“The WBA already has a heavyweight champion. His name is Murat Gassiev,” Gotzev said.
Gassiev then challenged Fury directly.
“Tyson, if Joshua doesn’t want to fight, I do,” said Gassiev. “You want the WBA heavyweight title? I am the WBA heavyweight champion. Don’t fight for a new belt. Fight me for mine.”
Fury vs Joshua subsequently remained intact, but the problem surrounding the WBA championship did not disappear.
WBN understands Gassiev and his team remain unhappy with the situation. Given the close working relationship between the IBA and WBA, a compromise could now be reached.
One potential solution would see Gassiev elevated to WBA Super Champion rather than Fury and Joshua fighting for that championship.
That would suddenly make Chisora’s December return considerably more significant.
The IBA announcement specifically identified Gassiev as a potential opponent for Chisora and raised the possibility of the Briton finally receiving another world-title opportunity.
WBA Heavyweight Title Solution
Should Gassiev receive Super Champion status, a December defense against Chisora in England could therefore be staged for the elevated championship.
Fury and Joshua could then contest the WBA Regular heavyweight title when they collide on December 11.
Such an arrangement would temporarily leave the WBA with two recognized heavyweight champions, but it could also provide a route toward eventually resolving the situation.
The respective winners could potentially be ordered to meet in 2027 to consolidate the WBA championship.
Nothing has been finalized, and Chisora’s opponent for December remains unconfirmed. However, Gassiev is publicly open to the fight, while the IBA has now promised Chisora a bout in England before the end of the year.
It represents a remarkable change in circumstances for Chisora after 50 professional fights and another punishing encounter with Wilder had left retirement appearing to be the next step.
Instead, Chisora could now find himself fighting for the senior version of the WBA heavyweight championship while Fury and Joshua contest the Regular belt.
For a heavyweight who has spent more than a decade chasing another world-title opportunity, the door may have unexpectedly opened again.
The decision to continue also raises another issue for fans who purchased tickets for the Wilder fight on the premise that it would be the last time they saw Chisora compete.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.
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