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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Davies

Derek Chisora 'confirms' MMA switch amid Dillian Whyte vs Francis Ngannou talks

Derek Chisora is looking to make a crossover to MMA, stating he "can't wait to get in the cage".

The 36-year-old has become the latest heavyweight to claim a willingness to try on a pair of MMA gloves, with British rival Dillian Whyte - who does have experience in the cage - involved in a war of words with UFC star Francis Ngannou.

The Englishman was scheduled to fight the undefeated Oleksandr Usyk on May 23, but the bout has now been delayed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

While promoter Eddie Hearn has claimed the highly-anticipated match-up between pair could be moved abroad, Chisora clearly has other things on his mind.

Speaking of MMA president Scott Coker, Chisora told Sky Sports: "I've told [him] give me your best heavyweight and I will knock his lights out!"

"I'm ready. I said to [manager David Haye] the other day: 'Can you get me in to a cage fight because I'm ready to go'.

"So I think we're working on that now, an MMA fight. I need it, so my next fight might be MMA or Usyk."

Chisora - who confirmed he's looking to fight in a Bellator event - added: "I'm hungry, excited, some MMA fighters come to boxing so I want to be the one that goes to MMA, I want to knock some dudes out for fun."

"Every day, serious guys, I enjoy it, it's painful but I enjoy it so I figured 'call David'.

"Since we don't know when we're boxing, we said let's do it."

Chisora admitted a crossover to MMA would give him limited time to prepare for a rescheduled fight with Usyk, but said that wouldn't stop him.

"Yes, but I'm a fighter," he said. "I love fighting, I don't want to look back when I finish, I want to look back and be happy.

"So do an MMA fight, finish it quick, jog on and fight Usyk, knock him out then go home and celebrate."

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