Dereck Chisora happy to be trading blows with old pal Artur Szpilka on Saturday night after fearing Deontay Wilder had killed him
DERECK CHISORA is happy to be trading blows with old pal Artur Szpilka on Saturday night after fearing Deontay Wilder had killed him.
The Finchley slugger, 35, and Polish former football hooligan became friends back in 2004, sharing the silver screen when they starred in the 2018 gangster film Pitbull.
So Del Boy was concerned when the Bronze Bomber detonated his terrifying right hand on the 30-year-old’s skull to end their 2016 clash in savage fashion.
Chisora, who faces his old buddy on the undercard of the Dillian Whyte vs Oscar Rivas clash at the 02, said: “I knew Szpilka from around 2004, after he had stopped being a football hooligan and I was over in Poland for business.
"We did some filming together for about 10 minutes and hung out afterwards, he is a cool guy.
“I watched him against Wilder, he was tired when he got KO'ed. I thought he was dead, he was not moving.”
Chisora, used to the luxury of his home on Hampstead Heath, spends weekdays in Rotherham since joining up with new trainer Dave Coldwell in February.
We indeed traded some blows but not heavy ones. It was more fun than a real fight. The real punches will fly in London.
Artur Szpilka on Dereck Chisora
But he could not stand the budget hotel Tony Bellew set up base in when he worked with the coach.
Chisora said: “I only lasted four nights in the Holiday Inn Bellew used to stay in and I called him two weeks ago and said 'How the hell did you do it?'
“Bellew told me: 'The only way I did was becoming a member in the cinema across the road and seeing two films a day'.
"That's how boring it is. Just training, eating and rest. I just watch Netflix.”
Szpilka and Chisora clashed in a fake fight during filming but it will be very real in Greenwich and the visiting southpaw insists fans are in for a treat as both men are a bit unhinged.
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He said: “We indeed traded some blows but not heavy ones. It was more fun than a real fight. The real punches will fly in London.
“I have a lot of respect for Chisora. He is a true warrior and he always fights to the final bell, so I’m ready and prepared for a tough fight.
“I chose this fight because we are both crazy men and it’s going to be a crazy fight.”