The 34-year-old Fury steps back into the ring for the first time since winning his title defense against Dillian Whyte at Wembley in April, a duel that was billed at the time as the last fight of his career.

But since then, the unpredictable "Gipsy King" has turned around several times.

After having unsuccessfully tried to organize a fight against the British Anthony Joshua, former WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion, it is finally Derek "Del Boy" Chisora ​​that he will face at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Fury therefore presents himself as the ultra-favorite against a 38-year-old opponent who seems unlikely to hinder him with his 33 successes for 12 defeats in the professionals, even if he assures that Chisora ​​is to be taken seriously.

"Anyone who faces Derek Chisora ​​should expect a big fight," said Fury, who has a record of 32 wins, including 23 by knockout, a draw and no defeats, at a press conference.

Usyk as a spectator

"Just before Christmas, it's going to be a real party," he added.

"I hear the critics talking, but in a two-horse race you should never underestimate anyone. Derek will come and try to knock me out, I'll try to knock him out and off you go like in Donkey Kong."

Rather friendly face to face between the heavyweight champion WBC Tyson Fury and Derek Chisora, November 29, 202 in London © Ben Stansall / AFP / Archives

The two pugilists are facing each other for the third time, Fury having won their first two fights, by unanimous decision in 2011 and by sponge throw three years later.

Rather than witnessing the end of this trilogy with Chisora, many fans would undoubtedly have preferred to see Fury face Usyk in a unification fight.

The Ukrainian indeed holds the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles, having dethroned Joshua in September 2021. But the Ukrainian, who won again against Joshua in Saudi Arabia last August, had warned that he would not be ready to face Fury in December.

If nothing has been made official for the moment, negotiations are progressing and a fight between the two undefeated boxers could take place next year, suggested Bob Arum, the promoter of Fury.

Ukrainian heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk after his victorious fight against Briton Anthony Joshua in Jeddah, August 20, 2022 © Giuseppe CACACE / AFP/Archives

In the meantime, some 60,000 spectators - including Usyk - are expected to attend this 100% British duel.

Sandwich and cup of tea

Unlike many fights involving Fury, the build-up to the match was marked by an absence of taunts or "trash-talking" between the opponents, with Fury and Chisora ​​having developed a friendly relationship over the years.

"I'm facing someone who gave me an opportunity (to fight for a belt, editor's note)," said Chisora, who has three defeats in his last four fights.

"Tyson called me and said 'I want to give you a chance'. So sit here and talk bad about some guy putting food on my kids' table? I can't."

"But on Saturday I can assure you that there will be no more friendship and that we will fight," he added, however.

"I'm in great shape."

Derek "Del Boy" Chisora ​​in training in London, November 29, 2022, four days before his fight against Tyson Fury © Ben Stansall / AFP / Archives

"We're going to go, slap each other in the face, and then we can have a nice little sandwich, a cup of tea, whatever he wants. No problem. But as long as we're in the ring, we're in combat mode," Fury added.

Note that a Frenchman is on the program for the London evening.

The European lightweight champion Yvan Mendy (37 years old, 47 wins, one draw, five losses) will face his official challenger, the Ukrainian Denys Berinchyk (34 years old and undefeated in 16 fights).

© 2022 AFP