Derek Chisora confirmed to face Deontay Wilder as he bids to hijack American star’s Oleksandr Usyk plan

It’s officially on between Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder.

The two heavyweights will square off on April 4 at The O2 in London.

The pair have long been linked to a potential clash, and had previously held the framework of an agreement to meet last December which fell through.

Wilder had previously told talkSPORT that he was in negotiations to face Oleksandr Usyk, but those were placed on ice with Chisora now the man in the American’s immediate crosshairs.

‘WAR’ had previously hinted he would face Wilder in the not-too-distant future during a recent appearance on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan.

When asked initially, he responded: “That’s what I’m hearing, I’m waiting for the phone call to happen.

“Yes I’d fight anybody. A good number and a good contract and I’ll fight.

“Me and Deontay will be amazing, somewhere at like Tottenham. That would be the idea.

“When I do know, the first place I am going is to talkSPORT to announce it.”

talkSPORT host Jim White then pressed Chisora for a final answer before the end of the interview.

He asked if he will be fighting Wilder next, to which the fan-favourite turned his camera and briskly nodded his head.

The bout in April will no doubt be an epic 50th and potentially final professional outing for the all-action veteran.

Wilder’s plan to fight Usyk – could Chisora derail it?

Wilder of course is interested in a meeting with the current unified champion, who has yet to formally announce his next fight.

But the 40-year-old will now need to beat Chisora to earn that title shot, and the Briton is in a rich vein of form having blitzed his way to three consecutive victories.

Chisora himself has faced Usyk in the past in just the Ukrainian’s second ever heavyweight appearance, where he caused him some real problems.

Ultimately, Usyk progressed and won the bout, but was full of praise for Chisora’s approach which left him sweating.

And now, the Briton has insisted that if he tastes victory, he could well look at a sequel with Usyk himself.

He continued: “Listen I can imagine anything in life, it is a beautiful thing.

Mark Robinson/Matchroom

“If the fight with Deontay happens, and the winner could fight Usyk that would be amazing.

“When we do make things happen with that, I’ll let you guys know. People can call it a tune-up fight, I don’t care.

“The name of the game, put me any names and write me a cheque. For Wilder to win, he has to knock me lights out.

“If he can’t do that by round ten, I can beat him up.”