Dereck Chisora and his nephew watched British boxing’s latest tragedy from ringside but will still compete together on Saturday night.
In May, at Harrow Leisure Centre, Sherif Lawal, 29, died following a brutal knockout in his professional debut.
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Chisora, a 40-year-old fighter from Hampstead, was standing ringside with Jermain Dhliwayo, 22, when the incident happened as he and Lawal sparred together at an amateur gym in St Pancras.
And on Saturday night Dhliwayo – an electrical apprentice – will make his professional debut after a candid chat with his uncle, who has competed in 47 gruelling professional fights.
“I haven’t spoken to him about it,” Chisora tried to tell SunSport ahead of his shootout with Joe Joyce on Saturday. “I’m no one’s therapist!
“I went to the hospital and spoke to the British Boxing Board of Control, I went to meet the boy’s family and spoke to his mum.
“I spoke to my nephew about it briefly, I asked him if he still wanted to fight after seeing all this.
“He said he did it, so I said to him ‘okay, go and do your thing’.
“Formula 1 drivers go 200 miles per hour, they crash and explode.
“We love the game, it’s tough but we love it. I’m not going to lie to you, we love the game.”
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Anyone who loves the sport will love Chisora, he has faced almost every dangerous heavyweight of his era.
After plundering wins against foreign boxers such as Robert Helenius and Kubrat Pulev – and violent defeats against David Haye, Dillian Whyte and Tyson Fury – fans are concerned about the fearless veteran boxer.
The Zimbabwean-born wild man – who kissed, slapped, spit at and threw tables at rivals – is now a devoted father of two daughters.
And we are all concerned about his health and safety, especially later in life when he should be enjoying his retirement with Angelina and Harare.
But the showman – who has shown bravery defeating world champions Vitali Klitschko and Fury – tells us we shouldn’t worry about the price he has paid, but rather the lifestyle he has earned for his family.
“Don’t worry about me,” he said emotionally. “Nobody anywhere needs to worry about me.
“I’m the last person in the world anyone needs to worry about.
“Trust me, I am fine.
“I know what I’m doing, I know what I’ve done, I know where I’m going to end up.
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“I have put my girls through private schools, I have given them the best life I could have wished for.
“And what else is there to do after boxing?
“You will notice that great fighters who quit boxing – maybe too early – become depressed and they try to cure their depression with alcohol and drugs.
“You have to be ready to walk away, you have to have a plan for afterward and I’m not ready yet. You’ll know when I’m ready.”
Deliveroo Headbutt
Chisora hit the headlines two weeks after the Joyce fight when he punched a Deliveroo driver in the head in the street following an argument.
Footage shared on social media shows he did so in self-defense after the fast-food rider threw the first punch.
And SunSport has learned Del Boy was upset the electric bike was trying to outrun children and pet dogs enjoying lunch on a narrow walkway.
It was a rare reminder of his old days as the bad boy of British boxing and he insists that the care and protection of two little girls – who watched the fight – has helped tame him.
He said: “I try to treat my daughters very well at home, so that they learn to behave the same way outside the home.
“My daughters have grown up to be very kind, really very kind. But they are also very wicked!
“They have inherited kindness from their mother, they are understanding, share everything and are very calm.
“There’s no violence in their lives. They’re very nice girls.
“Being with the girls has softened me up. But the beast in me is still there, when that switch goes, it goes.”
last Dance
Chisora claims he will hang up his gloves after his 50th fight. Joyce will then have a final trip to Manchester and hopefully his last dance will be in Zimbabwe.
It may be a few fights too late for Chisora, but he will be sorely missed after giving his all to the sport.
And despite his occasional madness, controversial comments, friendship with Nigel Farage and trademark red MAGA hat, Chisora isn’t leaving wounded business with a single serious foe.
“I love everybody,” he said honestly. “We are all somebody’s sons. I don’t need to be hostile towards anyone.
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“After the fight we go and meet each other, hug, meet our families and that’s it.
“Everyone is my friend, I have no quarrel with anyone. But, when the time comes to fight, I go.”
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