By Michael Collins: There are mismatches and then are really big mismatches that happen in boxing on a weekly basis. The February 18th fight between challenger Derek Chisora (15-2, 9 KO’s) vs. WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitshko (43-2, 40 KO’s) is what you call a stratospheric mismatch.
Chisora is the equivalent of fodder that’s being brought in for Vitali’s latest title defense. First off, Chisora is short at 6’1”, slightly fat, very slow, inexperienced, average on defense, slow of foot and with kind of loose lip. About the only thing I can see that’s any good about Chisora is his ability to give lip service. He’s very good at talking. In fact, I’d say he’s just a shade below former Brit David Haye in his trash talking ability. Talent-wise, I see Chisora below Haye in that department as well.
Chisora just doesn’t have what it takes to do much against Vitali other than block punches with his face. Forget about landing anything. Chisora won’t be. He’ll be hitting air all night long and probably will look more than a little amateurish in doing so. But what can you expect from a fighter that has lost 2 out of his last 3 fights going into this bout.
It’s a wonder that the WBC even sanctioned this fight, because Chisora wasn’t even ranked in the top 15 when the fight was signed. I mean he is now but that was done after the fight was signed. Chisora is ranked #15, and way over his head in this fight. But to listen to the guy talk, he doesn’t seem to understand how far out of his league he is.
I’m sure many of you have seen guys like that in life that had too much self-confidence and went out and got torn apart in a fight. I see Chisora as being one of those. He doesn’t know his limitations yet, but he will on February 18th. Vitali will teach Chisora about where he stands in the pecking order of the heavyweight division. It’s going to be a short, it’s going to be brutal and it’s going to be bloody for Chisora. But at least he’ll know where he stands a heavyweight, so it’s all good.