Inside negotiations which saw Deontay Wilder take Derek Chisora fight instead of Oleksandr Usyk in late U-Turn

Deontay Wilder’s return to the ring took a late turn when he went from fighting Oleksandr Usyk to Derek Chisora in a matter of weeks.

‘The Bronze Bomber’ had been locked into negotiations with Usyk at the back end of last year for an unlikely heavyweight title fight.

Everything appeared to be moving in the right direction, with the WBC, WBA and IBF all clearing the path for the fight to take place as a voluntary defence.

Then, in an unexpected turn, Wilder and Chisora agreed on terms for a bout on April 4 at London’s O2 Arena.

Explaining how the fight came to be, Wilder told talkSPORT.com in an exclusive interview: “Although we were in talks with Usyk, we still didn’t have a date or a place; we were still scrambling around.

“In boxing, things either go very slow or very fast. There is no in between. And this was very slow.

“I am an older fighter; I can’t sit around like a young fighter.

“So while we were in negotiations with Usyk, we started negotiations with Chisora.

“This fight [with Chisora] was supposed to happen back in December.

“So talks were already in an advanced stage before we got talking again, and by the time everything had stalled [with Usyk], we already got the fight [with Chisora] signed.

“And then, when we had it signed with Chisora, that is when Usyk’s people came in and said, ‘Okay, let’s go, we are ready’.

“But I wasn’t going to do Chisora like that.

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“Me and Chisora have already been through enough. I didn’t want to back out of this now.

“This is his 50th fight and final fight, and what better guy to retire with?

“I’m one of his good mates… this is going to get me to where I need to be, or where I think I should be, moving forward.

“I get past Derek, and that will put the heavyweight division on notice, and then we can move on to Usyk.”

Misfits Boxing chief Kalle Sauerland has suggested that the blockbuster showdown will be the end of the road for whoever comes up short this spring.

However, Wilder doesn’t appear to be ready to hang up his gloves just yet.

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How much longer will Deontay Wilder continue fighting?

“Many men have claimed they are retired, only to get sucked back in,” he added.

“It all depends on how full you are, because we all have to eat.

“I’m not full yet. Chisora says we will both be retiring after this fight, but I just don’t see that.

“I love this sport even though it is filled with crooks.

“This business helped change my life and the life of my children so that we can do whatever we want.”