By James Slater: Derek Chisora has been with trainer Don Charles for seven years now, and he has been with his fitness coach, John Ramos, for 2 years. Since losing a good deal of the puppy fat he had as a teenager, the 27-year-old British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion has thickened out and become a “fully developed athlete,” according to Ramos.
The 14-0 (9) contender was to have challenged world champion Wladimir Klitschko in his next fight, but he saw his dream fight fall apart – for a second time – due to injury on the part of “Dr. Steel Hammer.” Having been “ticking over” in training, awaiting his next fight ever since the Klitschko fall out, Chisora continued to “do his job; to get up each day and run – regardless of which fight I have pending.” Now of course, the Zimbabwe-born warrior has a big fight with trash-talker and fellow unbeaten big man Tyson Fury; set for Wembley on July 23rd.
Here, thanks to his kindly taking the time to speak with me regarding what he goes through in training and in describing his physical assets, “Del Boy” speaks on what makes him the fighter he is.
James Slater: How has your body changed over the years, since you were very young and just starting out?
Dereck Chisora: I have thickened out a lot since I was a teenager. I have lost all the fat I had back then and now I’m a very athletic fighter. I am fully developed now, and muscular and strong. I have great stamina; I can fight all night. I am naturally strong and aggressive; I go in there to destroy an opponent.
J.S: Do you lift weights?
D.C: We do some heavy weights and some light weights. We do Olympic lifts, which are on the heavy side. These lifts work my legs and my shoulders. This is for power. The light weights, with the Kell Bell, that’s for endurance and overall strength. I also do a lot of explosive stuff. John [Ramos] doesn’t really isolate any body part with specific training, but we do a lot of different work with the medicine ball, which works all my stomach muscles and my arms – to allow me to throw more punches.
J.S: What about roadwork, how much do you do?
D.C: Aside from morning running, which I do every day apart from Sunday; anywhere from 3 to 10 Kilometres – I use a new, high-tech running machine. It’s inside a vacuum, and the machine allows your joints to take a rest from fatigue that hard roadwork can cause. Also, running inside the vacuum, it really has a great effect on my lungs. I use this machine once a week.
J.S: What other things do you typically do in camp?
D.C: I do a lot of swimming and also we use the tornado bull, which is like a medicine ball with a rope attached. This is more versatile, and I can throw it against a wall, or throw it from side to side. We also use a sledgehammer; hitting a tire with it. I also do work on electric trainers: running machines, rowing machines and stuff like that.
J.S: And how much sparring do you do in camp?
D.C: I have had problems a number of times, getting good sparing partners, because the other British prospects are kept away from me by their managers and promoters. Sometimes we have had to go abroad for quality sparring. Aside from actual sparring, I do lots of work on the heavy bag and also on the speed bag; for timing and reflexes. Also I do skipping and working the pads with Don.
J.S: You’ve looked like a good puncher, a better puncher, in your last couple of fights. How do you rate your punching power overall?
D.C: My coach, Don Charles, doesn’t focus on one punch in particular; I throw lots of combinations. I have a good jab and a good hook, but my combination punching, putting it all together, is my strongest asset. I am one of the very few heavyweights in the world who can throw three and four-punch combinations. I have a good variety of punches.