Derek Chisora picks Tyson Fury as his best opponent over Usyk

Derek Chisora has chosen Tyson Fury as the best opponent of his career after facing the former heavyweight champion three times. The 42-year-old has completed 50 professional bouts during a career spanning almost two decades.

Chisora lost to Fury in each meeting. Their first contest ended in a unanimous decision for Fury in July 2011, while the second finished with Chisora retiring after the 10th round in November 2014. Fury then stopped him in 2022 during Chisora’s second unsuccessful challenge for the WBC heavyweight title.

Oleksandr Usyk, who defeated Chisora by unanimous decision in October 2020, was also highly rated by the veteran. That fight came in Usyk’s second appearance in the heavyweight division, and Chisora regarded the Ukrainian as the most impressive opponent in terms of defence, movement and ring awareness.

Despite those qualities, Chisora placed Fury above Usyk and Vitali Klitschko. Klitschko beat him by decision in 2012, when Chisora made one of his two attempts at a world heavyweight title. Fury’s three victories, including the 2022 stoppage, shaped Chisora’s final assessment.

The verdict comes as uncertainty remains over whether Chisora has boxed for the last time. He appeared to be heading towards retirement after losing to Deontay Wilder in April in what was expected to be his farewell fight.

That possibility has since become less certain. Chisora faced newly crowned WBA heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev in a face-off last month, although no decision on his next fight has been established.