Derek Chisora weighs in at career high and wears Tyson Fury mask ahead of fight with Deontay Wilder
Derek Chisora tipped the scales at a career-heaviest weight of 19st 1lbs before his showdown with Deontay Wilder on a day where mind games were in full flow.
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Wilder came in at 16st 2lbs (226.4lbs), which was 40lbs below the weight of Chisora (266.7lbs), who upped the ante at the ceremonial weigh-in by wearing a Tyson Fury mask in a dig at the two defeats his American rival suffered to his fellow British heavyweight.
There had been jeopardy earlier on Friday when it emerged Wilder was not happy with the gloves he is set to use at O2 Arena on Saturday, but the "Bronze Bomber" promised that was not down to mind games.
"It’s the first time I am hearing it now," Chisora said at York Hall in London on Good Friday.
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Wilder interjected: "It was my issue. I broke my hand so many times and the gloves that were provided. As you can see all the surgeries I had, I just want to be comfortable in the ring.
"And we had an issue with the gloves. They are too tight on my hand and we going to see what happens and we going to straighten it out."
Asked if this was mind games, Wilder insisted: "No, I don’t play mind games. When I say things, it’s real.
"I just want to be right, I want to be comfortable and where there is no excuses and everything is left in the ring."
After Chisora recorded his weight, he pulled out a mask with the face of Fury on and poked fun at Wilder before the duo concluded proceedings with a cordial face-off, which has been in keeping with the largely friendly vibe since this fight was announced in February.
Chisora laughed: "I just wanted to put it on because I know he has PSTD with Tyson Fury and that’s the game of boxing with the mind games.
"Listen, I’m cool. I think all of you know what time it is. When I strap up the boots, when I strap up the gloves and I go in there, there is only one thing. F*** it, let’s go!"