Dereck Chisora and Edmund Gerber meet for the vacant EBU European heavyweight title on Saturday night at the Copper Box Arena in London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
The fight is Chisora's third of a busy year, having gained the WBO international heavyweight crown by defeating American Malik Scott by technical knockout in Round 6 of their July fight at Wembley Arena.
Gerber, a 6'3" German fighter, has lost just once in his 22-fight professional career—a majority-decision defeat to Michael Sprott last December.
The fight on Saturday night, though, is Gerber's first for a major title.
As usual, Chisora is talking big ahead of the fight. The Londoner gave Vitali Klitschko a good test in February 2012 while fighting for the WBC title before his controversial bout with David Haye last year that also ended in defeat.
He has, however, secured two impressive knockout victories earlier this year and, per ESPN, believes that success against Gerber could be a springboard to a further world-title shot:
I don't know too much about the 25-year-old Gerber, but I've watched his Michael Sprott fight [a decision loss in a December rematch].He has good hand speed but so do a lot of heavyweights nowadays. But despite this he's still going to get smashed up in front of 7,000 fans at a rocking and rolling Copper Box Arena.For me, winning the European title is a springboard to another shot at one of the Klitschko brothers. The belt opens door in the heavyweight game and that's what we're trying to do.
Chisora's strategy will be similar to that which he has shown in recent fights. He is a powerful puncher, as his knockout record suggests, and will hope his speed can help him land shots on the tall German.
As the bout develops, Gerber will hope to use his height and reach advantage to wear Chisora down should the fight go into the later rounds.
Gerber, however, has not faced many opponents of Chisora's level previously and, if Chisora can find the same rhythm that kept Haye honest until his knockout, he should be well set for victory.
Boxing News Online, though, report Gerber's confident comments coming into the fight, with the German believing he can take advantage of the British boxer's limited variation as the fight develops:
Chisora only knows one gear. He is moving forward as he tries to pressure his opponent from the get-go. You have to handle those tactics.The key to win against such a style is simple: impress him with your punching power and looseness. Over the rounds, he then will run out of ideas. And when he starts risking too much, I will knock his lights out.
The fight will be shown live on Box Nation in the UK, with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET.
Betting Odds (Bet365, per September 21, 12 p.m. BST)
Dereck Chisora 1/10
Edmund Gerber 6/1
By Bleacher Report
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