Derek Chisora and Otto Wallin collide with a bigger fight the prize

Ahead of their clash in Manchester next year, heavyweight contenders Derek Chisora and Otto Wallin squared off for the first time today.

The contest, at the Co-op Live in Manchester on Saturday, February 8, will be the 49th of Chisora’s career and has been called The Last Dance as he nears his 50th and supposedly final fight.

The divisive London heavyweight is 40 years old and has fought many of the division’s top names since turning professional in 2007. He is now 35-13 (23 KOs), and coming off a gruelling win over Joe Joyce in July.

Wallin, who cut Tyson Fury badly in Las Vegas in 2019 and lost a decision, is 27-2 (15 KOs) and the Swedish southpaw notched a first-round victory over Onoriode Ehwarieme in July as he came back from his December mauling at the hands of Anthony Joshua.

“Now I’m here, I’m going to win this fight and take it step by step from here and just keep climbing,” said Wallin, who said the goal was to try to get better and to keep working. 

“I’m here to fight and here to win and that’s all. I don’t worry so much about The Last Dance and all that, this is my time.

“You’re gonna get stopped,” he told Chisora. 

Chisora replied to the 30-year-old Swede, saying: “I’m going to be all over you like a baby’s rash. I’m going to put the fucking fear of god in you… There’s nothing you’ve got that I haven’t tasted in my life. I don’t believe you’ve got the power to bother me. Even the biggest punchers have not bothered me, so, you know, don’t worry, I’ve got fear of you but it gives me that motivation to train harder. I’m definitely going to come for you.

“I’m just excited. God has blessed me to have 50 fights and No. 50 will be big. I’m going to talk to [promoter] Frank Warren] about it, but it will be amazing.”

Warren said the victor in February would be primed to take on a big name at heavyweight later in the year.

“The winner of this will get into that mix at the top echelon, that’s what they’ve got to get,” said Warren. “If you win this fight, you’re going to get a big fight and the same with Otto… “This will be a war, I promise you.”

There is an attractive undercard fight at 175lbs on the bill with Zach Parker, 25-1 (18 KOs), and Willy Hutchinson, 18-2 (13 KOs), looking to steal the show.

“This is going to be a tough fight for both of them,” said Warren. “And it’s going to be an exciting fight for the fans.”