Fabio Wardley believes the upcoming heavyweight boxing bout with Deontay Wilder should be Derek Chisora’s last fight.
The WBO heavyweight champion told the BBC that Chisora has “given his heart and soul to the sport” and deserves to step away after facing Wilder, regardless of the outcome.
Wardley’s comments arrive just days before the veteran heavyweight takes on Wilder in a fight that suddenly carries major stakes for both men.
“I'd like to see him call it a day,” Wardley said. “After all the entertainment he has given us, he deserves to sit down and have five minutes to himself.”
Wardley acknowledged that retirement decisions are rarely straightforward in boxing, especially for a fighter like Chisora, who has spent years flirting with the idea of walking away before returning to the ring for another bout.
“It's hard to go out on a loss because you want to end your career on a high,” Wardley said. “But then once you do end on a high, you think, ‘well, if I did that, maybe I can do one more.’”
That has become part of Chisora’s story in recent years. The 42-year-old has repeatedly hinted that each fight could be his last, only to keep going. Wardley said concerns about Chisora’s long-term health are understandable but admitted that few people are likely to convince him to stop.
“With someone like Derek though, not many people are going to be able to tell him when he should stop,” Wardley said. “He's going to dictate his own time and terms.”
Wardley also said he gives Chisora the edge because of his recent activity. Chisora has remained busy and looked sharp in wins over tougher opposition, including Otto Wallin. Wilder, meanwhile, has lost four of his last six fights and has spent long stretches away from the ring following defeats to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang.
“Wilder has fallen into the background,” Wardley said, adding that the former champion has looked “a bit scared in the ring at times.”
Still, Wilder has hardly disappeared entirely. Outside the ring, according to Sporting News, the 40-year-old has recently expanded into acting. Earlier this year, Deontay Wilder was cast in Moses the Black, a crime drama produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
The film, which also features Quavo and Wiz Khalifa, is expected to arrive through Fathom Entertainment and marks Wilder’s most significant screen role to date after earlier appearances on Magnum P.I. and Billions.
Whether Wilder’s future ends up in Hollywood or back among boxing’s elite may depend on what happens. Wardley said the formula is simple: “I think if it's Wilder, it's a clean KO win. If it's Derek, it's an overwhelming barrage.”
