ABOUT DEREK CHISORA
You might think you know Derek, but there’s so much more you don’t see and don’t know.
Understanding Derek Chisora doesn’t start with his knockouts or titles—of which there are many—it starts with his beliefs. The beginning and ending of every action Derek takes is deliberate to ensure he lives a life without regret. Simple. No regrets means he accepts every fight, throws every punch, always gets up and will never give up.
“I’m like water, I go with the flow.”
Becoming a boxer wasn’t a choice, it was a calling. From the time Derek was a young boy growing up in Zimbabwe he loved sports and training. When he moved to London at age 16, training saved his life. “I got into a bit of trouble when I was younger,” Derek said, “a hot-head doing stupid things with no real future ahead.” It was training that made Derek feel free and in control. That drive, coupled with his strength and speed meant boxing was a natural fit.
Before Derek turned professional in 2007, he already had an impressive track record with more than 20 matches, including winning a gold medal at the Four Nations Championships. To date, Derek’s record is remarkable with 32 wins and only three knockouts. But if you ask Derek, it’s the not the losses he counts, it’s the chance to do something he loves that matters most. For that chance, he feels lucky. [See Derek Chisora’s full boxing record.]
“Why would I stop doing something I love? I will never stop. I will never retire.”
When asked about his heros, Muhammad Ali tops the list. An obvious choice at first mention as Muhammed Ali is considered the greatest boxer to ever live, but it’s beyond Ali’s talent that Derek admires. For Derek, Ali is the epitome of self-belief, determination and standing up for what’s right. By refusing to be drafted into the military during the war in Vietnam, Ali was stipped of his titles and risked five years in jail. That takes guts. That strength in Ali is the same strength inside Derek.
To watch Derek train you see the same intensity as if he’s in the ring. You get the sense that he’s not fighting another man, he’s fighting himself. And he is. Derek derives his strength from himself. It’s his will, his passion and his self-conviction that pushes him. For Derek, there’s no alternative. By living for himself, he ensures he lives a life without regrets.
“Being a warrior is about how you live your life. Training saved me and gave me purpose.”
To the surprise of those who only know Derek as War Chisora, Derek is modest. He knows that without the support of his mother and his close friends and family, he wouldn’t have the opportunities he has now and he might still be that lost teenager getting into trouble. He cares less about what others think of him and more about what he thinks of himself. In that sense, Derek is a role model. “Yes,” Derek admits, “I still get a little loud at times, but I want people, especially young men getting into trouble like I did, to look beyond the noise and nonsense and find the strength inside themselves to fight.”
