By Barry Holbrook: Derek Chisora says he thinks former two-time world title challenger Kubrat Pulev has lost his hunger going into their rematch next month on July 9th at the O2 Arena in London.
Chisora (32-12, 23 KOs) isn’t saying how he can tell that the 41-year-old Pulev (29-2, 14 KOs) has lost his hunger for the sport, but he sees something in him that has led to his opinion.
Of course, some boxing fans would say that it takes one to know one, as it appears that the 38-year-old Chisora is primarily focused on getting paychecks at this point in his 15-year career.
‘War” Chisora hasn’t won a fight since 2019, and his promoter Eddie Hearn warned this week that if he loses to Pulev, this could be the end of him headlining on his cards.
Hearn might change his mind if the O2 Arena sells out for the Chisora vs. Pulev 2 rematch and if it brings in many new subscribers to DAZN.
Pulev defeated Chisora by a 12-round split decision in 2016 in a fight that Hearn says was close. This writer saw the battle, which looked like a one-sided win for Pulev.
Chisora looked almost as helpless against Pulev as in his rematch with Tyson Fury in 2014.
Pulev looked like a knock-off version of Fury because he jabbed Chisora at will and tied him up on the inside all night.
“I want to outbox this guy,” said Derek Chisora to iFL TV, talking about his plans for his July 9th rematch against Kubrat Pulev. “I’m a better boxer than him.
“It’s a great fight. It’s going to be amazing. He’s a big guy, but he doesn’t have the hunger anymore. I can tell,” said Chisora about the 41-year-old Pulev. ”
“He’s still doing it because he’s got the proud European style, macho situation, but the hunger has gotten out of him. The fire has gone out of him, basically.
“He won’t pull out because he’s out for the game, but sometimes the hunger goes, and you don’t know. But I want to fight him.
“No, no, no, I’m not even looking at that fight,” Chisora said when asked if he’s looking at his first contest with Pulev in 2016 as a yardstick on how he’ll battle him in the rematch on July 9th.
“Thank God, he signed the contract because the last guy [Adam Kownacki] that said he was going to sign never signed.
“When Pulev boxed AJ, he didn’t come to take it. He came to mess around and got knocked out. For me, I want big fights for big money. I like to fight and get paid.
“There’s nothing wrong with a payday. People say, ‘Oh, he’s fighting for a payday.’ Of course, I want a payday. Who wouldn’t want a payday,” said Chisora. “A payday makes me live a comfortable life. It’s about money,” said Chisora.
