Promoter Frank Warren revealed that this Saturday’s fight between Derek Chisora and Otto Wallin is an IBF heavyweight title eliminator to determine a mandatory to champion Daniel Dubois. Chisora vs. Walling are fighting a 12-rounder on February 8th at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester, England.
It’s unbelievable that the journeyman Chisora is in an IBF title eliminator with his 13 career defeats and empty wins over three skidrow-level 40-year-olds.
Is This Fair?
41-year-old Chisora (35-13, 23 KOs) has put himself in a position to fight for an IBF title eliminator against #12 Wallin (27-2, 15 KOs) by beating these three heavyweights:
Joe Joyce – 39
Gerald Washington – 42
Kubrat Pulev – 43
That’s not exactly the murderer’s row that Chisora went through to earn an IBF eliminator spot because he should have had to beat much better fighters than that to be one win away from challenging Daniel Dubois for his title.
It’s nearly impossible for Chisora to defeat the 34-year-old Wallin, as he’s much younger, more technical, and fighting at a much higher level. However, with the fight staged in the UK, you can’t rule out a controversial win for Derek. The location of the fight and the sentimental drama could make it difficult for Wallin to win.
The Swedish fighter has only lost to Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury during his 12-year professional career. Many fans believe Wallin should have been given a stoppage victory over Fury in their fight on September 14, 2019, because the Gypsy King had suffered a bad cut early in the fight.
The ringside doctor let it go on with Tyson bleeding all over and looking like a complete wreck. Even with the fight going to the cards, Wallin felt like he deserved the win, but he found himself on the losing stick by a 12-round decision against the more popular Tyson.
IBF’s Questionable Decision
“I expect him to focus on the 49th because without the 49th being successful, there won’t be a 50,” said promoter Frank Warren to BoxNation when asked if Derek Chisora’s next fight will be in Africa. “It’s how you lose as well if you lose.
This is a tough fight. Don’t overlook Otto Wallin. He’s only lost two fights, and that’s to two world champions, Tyson Fury and AJ. All the rest are wins. They [Team Wallin] fancy it. That’s why they’re here.
“What everyone is forgetting about is this is an eliminator for the IBF title,” said Warren about the Chisora vs. Wallin clash being an IBF title eliminator to determine a mandatory to champion Daniel Dubois.
It would be disturbing to see Chisora fight for a world title against IBF champion Daniel Dubois, given his many defeats and how washed he’s looked since 2019. Fury received massive criticism for defending his WBC title against Chisora in December 2022, with Delboy losing three out of his last four fights. That was a complete joke, making Fury look like a cherry-picker.
“This is an eliminator for the IBF title, and the IBF will decide what they’re going to do after that,” said Warren when told that Martin Bakole and Efe Ajagba expect to fight in a final IBF title eliminator in May in New York.
“Of course, it would. It would be brilliant for him to be getting back in there and doing that,” said Warren about Chisora fighting for a world title in the 50th and final fight of his career. It would be the perfect ending for him.
“If Daniel [Dubois] comes through on February 22nd in Riyadh against Joe Parker, him and Derek, what a fight that would be,” said Warren.
Wallin will still be far too good for Chisora on Saturday, so that’ll spare the fans from seeing Delboy walk the plank to challenge Dubois for his title. That fight would be a complete massacre and not even remotely sporting.
Last Updated on 02/06/2025
