Derek Chisora threatens to PULL OUT of Joseph Parker fight in ring walk row

Derek Chisora has threatened to pull out of Saturday’s main event fight with Joseph Parker after a row over who will walk to the ring second.

The British heavyweight and Parker had agreed to flip a coin to see who would make their ring entrance last, which was drawn into their fight contract, but Chisora is now refusing to honour it.

After stepping off the scales at Friday’s weigh-in, Chisora decided he didn’t want the coin toss to happen and stormed out of the room after a back-and-forth with Parker.

Derek Chisora is threatening to pull out of Saturday’s fight with Joseph Parker in ring walk row

The Brit refused to honour their agreement to flip a coin to see who would make entrance last

Chisora’s manager David Haye took part in the coin toss in a bid to try and resolve the issue, but New Zealander Parker won it and subsequently the right to walk in second.

The fight however is now in jeopardy with the Brit threatening to withdraw and leave the hotel if he is not allowed to come in last. 

Haye and Frank Smith of Matchroom went to Chisora’s room after the weight-in to try and calm him down.

‘We’re arguing right now, back there,’ Chisora told Sky Sports. ‘They want to do a coin flip, who comes in the ring first and who comes in the ring second.

‘I was like, “No, not doing that.” Either I come in second or I’ll go home right now!’

Asked if the matter could be worked out, Chisora added: ‘Don’t know. I’m not in a good mood now.’ 

Chisora’s manager Haye confirmed the heavyweight is unwilling to enter the ring first after losing the coin toss. 

‘I genuinely can’t see the fight happening, if Derek is told to come first,’ Haye said.

Parker won the coin toss but now Chisora has claimed he will withdraw from the fight

‘I know it makes zero sense. He agreed it, he signed the contract.

‘He’s just that guy, he doesn’t care, and unfortunately that’s just the way it is.’  

This is not the first time Chisora, who tipped the scales at 17st 12lbs on Friday, has threatened to pull out of a fight, having coincidentally claimed he’d do the same if he didn’t get more money when his fight with Parker was first scheduled for October in 2019. 

That fight was supposed to go ahead on the undercard of Josh Taylor’s unification clash with Regis Prograis in the World Boxing Super Series final before Parker had to withdraw due to a spider bite. 

‘You want to put these guys, and nobody knows about them, on my show, and try and mug me off,’ Chisora said during a bizarre rant at a press conference back in September 2019.

A furious Chisora said he didn’t know if the issue could be resolved before fight night

‘No cares about the Muhammad Ali trophy (the prize Taylor and Prograis were competing for). If I’m not going to main event I want more money or I’m pulling out the show.

‘Boxing right now is thriving on the heavyweights.

‘Nobody cares about you [Regis Prograis] let’s be honest. Don’t get me started, I don’t give a s***. Am I taking the main stage yes or no? If I’m not I want more money.’

Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn remains confident Saturday’s heavyweight showdown will happen, but admitted the dispute could rumble on up until just hours before the fight.

‘I’m glad David Haye is his manager as he will now have to go try to sort it,’ Hearn said.

‘But I think it will go on for a few hours at least, it may even go into the day of the fight right up until they walk.’