Our build-up to this weekend's big fight continues as furyjoshua.com reports on Thursday's press conference.
David Haye is hoping Dereck Chisora will be allowed to implement the game plan he needs to stun Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night.
Chisora (32-9) is expected to give former cruiserweight king Usyk (17-0) his first major test since stepping up to heavyweight (live on Sky Sports Box Office and DAZN).
The slick Ukrainian southpaw is a 1-8 favourite with Sky Bet to remain unbeaten, and he undoubtedly has the silkier boxing skills.
But Chisora’s manager Haye expects his charge to make it a rough and tough night for Usyk, if he is allowed to.
He said: "The moment Dereck is forced to have a long-range boxing match with the best boxer in the world, he loses. Fact. We're under no illusions.
“When Dereck gets inside the referee needs to let the action flow. Let them work, let them punch. When they are on the inside and are punching, it doesn't matter that their heads are close or that they might be holding an arm. Just let the action flow.
"The British Boxing Board of Control have great judges and referees and I'm positive that, for a fight of this magnitude, the referees and judges are on point.
“Dereck doesn't want favours. He just wants it fair. Dereck wants to be allowed to implement a game-plan that will give him success."
The major question mark over Usyk at heavyweight is his ability to hang with seasoned veterans who significantly outweigh him.
We will find out on Saturday if he can, and Haye for one believes the doubts are valid.
"It will get very rough, very fast. Will Usyk drown in the heavyweight waters?,” he asked.
“Chisora can absorb a disgusting amount of punishment. How deep can Usyk soul-search? How much does he want it? Things come easier to Usyk. He is now fighting someone 20kg of solid muscle heavier. I see Chisora causing one of the biggest upsets on British soil ever.”
Chisora has been preparing for this bout for several months, the product of a number of potential dates being scuppered by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
And Haye says he has never seen the 36-year-old from Finchley in better shape ahead of a major fight.
He explained: “Dereck has taken his training to a new stratosphere in terms of pain and sacrifice. It took someone as good as Usyk to do what he's always needed to do.
“Usyk will find himself in a very, very uncomfortable fight, fighting somebody significantly stronger than anybody he has fought before.
“Usyk believes it will be a boxing match. Peace? I was hoping that would be the case. He hasn't practiced having a war. He has practiced silky skills to keep the big man off.
“What if the big man forces his way in? Usyk won't be allowed to box. He will be forced to fight. He will find himself in deep waters and there is a strong current.”
