Derek Chisora tapes mouth shut with taunting message to Eddie Hearn in bizarre press conference for Joseph Parker fight
DEREK CHISORA stunned promoter Eddie Hearn with the silent treatment ahead of his rematch with Joseph Parker.
The 37-year-old fans’ favourite taped his mouth shut with the words ‘Eddie Hearn pay me to talk’ at the Stroller Hall in Manchester.
Hearn asked him “how much” but when Chisora ignored him the red-faced Matchroom boss had to turn to Parker to speak instead.
The madcap heavyweight walked into the room with his own giant speaker blaring out Purple Rain by Prince.
- Find out how to watch Derek Chisora vs Joseph Parker here
And the king of pre-fight antics then ignored rival promoter David Higgins’ handshake in favour of flicking him a middle finger.
Then, instead of talking to the press, Chisora played Queen song Bohemian Rhapsody and sheepish Hearn briefly sang along.
Hearn let his undercard fighters address the audience first, with silent Chisora’s mouth hidden by a branded covid-19 mask.
But after all the support stars had spoken, Hearn tried to get Del Boy to help sell the show but he kept hilariously schtum and unveiled the prank.
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Chisora, now nicknamed War, has plenty of form for fight-week madness, ranging from Halloween body paint for the Oleksandr Usyk clash and hurling a table at bitter nemesis Dillian Whyte.
Chisora has spat water at Vitali Klitschko and planted a kiss on the lips of fuming Carl Baker in 2010.
Most of Chisora’s craziest stunts have appeared to boost last-minute PPV sales on Sky Sports.
But the veteran ace is now boxing on streaming app DAZN so appears to have toned down his efforts unless Hearn stumps up more moolah.