Dereck Chisora’s trainer Dave Coldwell has said he would not work in the British heavyweight’s corner if Chisora went ahead with a fight against former WBC champion Deontay Wilder.
Speaking to talkSPORT in early January 2022, Coldwell said a bout with the hard-hitting American was not something he wanted to see and described it as “too hard a night” for his fighter, who was 38 at the time.
Coming off a defeat
Coldwell’s comments came a few weeks after Chisora lost a rematch with New Zealand’s Joseph Parker in Manchester on 18 December 2021. Parker put Chisora on the canvas three times and won a unanimous decision, having also won their first meeting in May 2021 on a split decision.
Wilder, meanwhile, was recovering from his third fight with Tyson Fury in October 2021, which he lost by knockout in the 11th round of a contest widely rated as one of the best heavyweight fights in years. With his punching power, a meeting with Chisora was seen by many as a dangerous step for a veteran who had taken a lot of punishment in recent bouts.
Other options
Coldwell said he would prefer to see Chisora take fights he could win against opponents who suited his pressure style, and suggested several names from the heavyweight rankings. He made clear that the decision about Chisora’s future belonged to the fighter, but that he would not take part in that particular match-up.
Chisora, nicknamed War, had fought world champions including Vitali Klitschko and Tyson Fury, and remained one of the most popular British heavyweights because of his willingness to take on anyone.
Update
The fight eventually happened more than four years later. Chisora and Wilder met at The O2 in London on 4 April 2026, and Wilder won a split decision after twelve rounds.
Sources: Dave Coldwell interview with talkSPORT (January 2022), official results of Parker v Chisora II (18 December 2021) and Wilder v Chisora (4 April 2026).