LONDON – Deontay Wilder said Wednesday he needs Derek Chisora more than Chisora needs him as he plots a return to heavyweight title contention.
Chisora (36-13, 23 KO) will face Wilder (44-4, 43 KO) this will be the 49th professional fight of both fighters, which will take place on April 4 at London’s O2 Arena.
Chisora insisted this would be his last fight regardless of the result, even if it pushed him into title contention, while Wilder still has aspirations to fight for a world title again.
Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk appointed Wilder last year, and sources told ESPN that talks with the Ukrainian’s team were progressing, but negotiations for the American to face Chisora were at a more advanced stage.
December and February dates fell through before the April fight was confirmed last week.
While Wilder still has his sights set on fighting Usyk, he knows he needs a win to get there.
“I need this fight. I need Derek more than he needs me,” Wilder said at the press conference. “I need to see where I’m at. I’ve been broken and rebuilt. I can’t wait.”
“This is definitely a must-win win for me. Not just a win, I need a devastating win, a knockout. That’s what we’re seeing. We’ve got two attractive heavyweights there. You don’t know what to expect.”
“He throws everything in the kitchen sink. You can take the toaster and the blender and whatever. He hits you where you don’t want to be hit and he doesn’t care.
“I told Derek I want you to try to kill me. Because that’s what I need and that’s what he’s going to do. This is a special moment.”
Both Chisora and Wilder have captivated audiences for years with their personalities outside the ring as well as their performances between the ropes, but it was a quieter news conference on Wednesday in which they talked about their friendship and urged them not to sell the fight with violence and nonsense.
However, because Chisora wanted to rise to the top and Wilder was determined to climb the ladder again, the two agreed that their relationship would be put on hold on April 4.
“I don’t want anyone to be wrong here in terms of how our friendship has developed, because that’s how it’s been for some time. We’re not faking it,” Wilder said.
“We don’t need to have topics to discuss, to be mad at each other, we leave it behind. We don’t even need safety here.
“But on fight night it’ll turn off. You’ll see two enemies in the ring shouting at each other.”
Chisora, known for his antics at press conferences, insisted the meeting would be cordial.
“Can you imagine two grown men wrestling on the floor right now?” Chisora said. “We want to sell this fight in a different way. All these people are coming to see you [Wilder].
“I don’t want to sell this fight with violence.”
Wilder was the WBC champion for five years, making 10 title defenses. However, he has lost four of his last six fights, making the clash with Chisora a decisive one.
“[There is] so much love between me and this brother,” Wilder added. “I just want to fight him. He’s my boy.
“After this fight, I might stay with my family in Alabama for a week.”