Matchroom Confirms Usyk-Chisora Showdown For October

The long awaited reschedule of the Heavyweight contender showdown between unbeaten former World Cruiserweight champ, Oleksandr Usyk and English, hard punching veteran, Dereck Chisora, is now official for late October.

Matchroom Boxing and promoter, Eddie Hearn made the announcement official Wednesday morning that the two will square off October 31st, likely at London’s O2 arena. Matchroom also tweeted a corresponding “hype video” for the anticipated battle:

? #UsykChisora ? pic.twitter.com/pBjOp0P5Dr

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) September 23, 2020

Usyk and Chisora were to have met in May in London to essentially solidify the Ukrainian former Gold medalist in the 2012 Olympics, as the WBO’s number one ranked contender. However, the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the entire sport and has postponed this battle indefinitely, while waiting for a date and place where at least some fans can be present.

Usyk, 17-0, 13 KOs, won his first heavyweight bout last October against 38-year-old last-second replacement, Chazz Witherspoon in Chicago by 7th round TKO. He previously won the WBO portion of the Crusierweight World title, when he decisioned Krzysztof Glowacki in September 2016.

Usyk, later won the “World Boxing Super Series” tournament and the Undisputed titles defeating Russian Murat Gassiev by decision, also, in July of 2018. He knocked out England’s Tony Bellew that November in his only Undisputed defense before vacating the belts and moving up to the more lucrative Heavyweight division.

Usyk was then installed as the top challenger by the WBO and therefore, is Anthony Joshua’s mandatory challenger after his upcoming fight scheduled for December with Kubrat Pulev.

The 36 year old Chisora is 32-9 and hasn’t won a really significant fight, since fellow English contender Dillian Whyte knocked him out in December of 2018. And, that was the second time Whyte had beaten Chisora in their careers. His last action was also last October of last year, when “War” kayoed fellow Englishman David Price in the 4th round of their bout.

It’s unclear whether Hearn/Matchroom will be able to have any fans socially distanced inside the O2 for Halloween night. But, he hinted on social media recently that Matchroom, health officials in the U.K. and the British Boxing Board of Control have been in discussions to safely have some fans attend.