Derek Chisora made an unusual, eye-catching entrance ahead of his press conference with Deontay Wilder on Thursday, arriving in a tank with Nigel Farage.
Chisora has been a vocal supporter of the Reform UK politician in recent years, and the pair seemed in a joyous mood together on Thursday.
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The polarising Farage waved a Union Jack flag from atop a tank stylised in DAZN branding – the broadcast platform that will stream Saturday’s fight – while Chisora sported his trademark Union Jack balaclava.
“This is something different,” Farage said as he climbed onto the tank. Chisora was then filmed riding the tank’s cannon in a provocative manner before giving a salute to onlookers as they set off, bound for York Hall.
Derek Chisora (left) arrived to his press conference with Nigel Farage on a tank (Adam Davy/PA Wire)
Chisora straddles the tank’s cannon before heading for York Hall (Adam Davy/PA Wire)
This is Farage’s latest foray into the sports world after his controversial visit to Ipswich Town last week, posing for photos at Portman Road before a rally in the town later the same day.
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In a recent encounter, Farage said of Chisora, “I shall be there at his next fight, his last professional fight,” to which the boxer replied: “I might hire a tank and then you roll up in it.” Farage, 61, said in turn: “Someone suggested this.”
Chisora also defended Farage’s party against allegations that some of its politics are rooted in racism, saying: “You’re always going to find people trying to fight for what’s theirs. I don’t call it racism, I call it politics. If people support [US president Donald] Trump, they’re told: ‘Oh, you’re a racist.’ Nigel’s come up with his party and now it’s, ‘He was a racist.’ Everybody who’s not with the left? ‘You’re racist.’”
“I’m Zimbabwean,” Chisora added of his place of birth. “My kids are British.”
Speaking further about Trump, Chisora said: “I was a fan of Trump, but not this latest stuff [the Iran conflict]. He stopped seven wars and started another one.
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“The ones at the top are making money and the ones at the bottom are not. We’ve got war in Europe, in the Middle East, in Africa. Nobody wins. Not us. People die, people are burying their kids. Who are the good politicians? I’m friends with Nigel. His politics are his politics; it’s nothing to do with me.”
Chisora took to the stage in York Hall with Wilder ahead of their heavyweight main event at the O2 Arena this weekend and expects the bout to end quickly and explosively.
“I need that crazy energy, I just need war and pain, that’s what I’m bringing,” Chisora said. “I’m going to hit this man everywhere. I just pray nobody is going to come with excuses out of the two of us.
“I am starting so fast, this fight won’t see 12 rounds […] The hardest thing about the O2 for me will be that ring walk, but after the first bell goes, the rest will be easy. We may not even see round two. I’m so fit and I’m so ready for this fight, we might not even see round two.
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“I might just say, ‘F*** it, let’s go. F**** this s*** man, let’s just go.’ I hope he’s ready. Yes, you know what? F*** it, I am going to do that. I’m going to tell my trainer: ‘F*** it, we’re going. That’s the gameplan now.’”
Wilder is similarly preparing for a firefight and has warned Chisora to come to the ring with heart.
Chisora (left) and Deontay Wilder exchange words at their press conference (Adam Davy/PA Wire)
“I’m bringing a lot of things […] I’m going to tell Derek to bring his heart, because I’m taking that, too,” he said.
“He ain’t got to worry about my power, he needs to worry about my speed. What he’s going to feel is something he’s never felt in his career before.”
Chisora replied: “Maybe he’ll be the first guy to take my heart, we’ll see.”
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Chisora has claimed this will be his retirement fight, and the 42-year-old Briton will enter the contest with a professional record of 36-13 (23 KOs).
Meanwhile, former world champion Wilder is 40 years old with a record of 44-4-1 (43 KOs). Many fans think the American’s career is also on the line at the O2, despite Wilder’s suggestions that he will keep fighting regardless of the result.
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