Derek Chisora says he will fight Murat Gassiev in December, rejects retirement
Derek Chisora says he is not retiring and believes he will return to the ring in December to face Murat Gassiev, after a news conference hosted by the IBA. Gassiev’s WBA 'super' status remains unclear.
Derek Chisora said at a news conference that he does not intend to retire and expects to fight Murat Gassiev in December. The 42-year-old, whose April loss to Deontay Wilder had been billed as his 50th and final fight, made the announcement at an event hosted by the IBA and said negotiations are ongoing over whether the bout would take place in London or Manchester.
Chisora: 'December will be me versus Gassiev' — venue to be decided
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday hosted by the IBA, Derek Chisora said he believed he would fight Murat Gassiev in December and that the fight would be staged in either London or Manchester. Chisora said organisers intended to put "two belts on the line", naming the IBA belt and the one Gassiev holds. He also reiterated he had never formally announced his retirement, saying his April bout with Deontay Wilder was billed as his 50th and final fight but that he had not declared himself retired.
Gassiev's WBA 'super' status unclear as December date approaches
Murat Gassiev is currently described as the WBA 'super' heavyweight champion, after being upgraded to that status in June when Oleksandr Usyk relinquished the belt. However, reports that Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will contest a fight on 11 December for a title tied to Gassiev have left his status uncertain. The Russian said on Tuesday he was unsure whether he remained the WBA world champion. Chisora's comment about putting the 'one Gassiev holds' on the line reflects that uncertainty and the overlapping claims around those belts.
Veteran fighter rejects repeated retirement talk
IBA hosts press conference amid ongoing controversy
The news conference announcing Chisora's intentions was hosted by the International Boxing Association (IBA). The International Olympic Committee stripped the IBA of its status as amateur boxing's governing body in 2023, and it has since staged professional bouts. Several of Gassiev's recent fights have taken place under the IBA banner, a factor that sits alongside the wider uncertainty about championship recognition and which belts could legitimately be contested in December.