Though many fans are predicting a rough night for Dereck Chisora (32-9, 23 KOs) when he faces Oleksandr Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs) on Oct. 31, the British slugger is not fazed in the slightest.
'Del Boy' has already been in the ring with some of the best and some of the hardest-hitting heavyweights. He has won big fights and lost big fights. He was defeated in contests he was expected to win, and emerged victorious on occasions where he wasn't particularly fancied.
So though a bout with the undefeated Ukrainian will be a very tough task indeed, there appears to be no 'fear factor'.
"It’s a fight," Chisora, casual as ever, told Sky Sports. "He’s not something scary like Rambo or something like that, you know.
"He’s a man, I’m a man, and it’s a fight. We’ll both have gloves on, we’re both using two hands.
"What’s the worst that can happen? You get knocked out. Then you get back up, and you fight again."
While Dillian Whyte vs. Alexander Povetkin has reminded us never to write off any boxer — especially when it comes to the heavyweights — the prevailing mentality among fans and experts alike isn't simply that Usyk must win, but that he must win in some style.
Again, being written off is no skin off Chisora's nose.
"I will make sure by the time he leaves that ring that he knows he has been in a fight," he continued.
"I’m not gonna leave anything to chance. I’m gonna go for it."
Though the meeting between the two had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it appears the delays did not succeed in ensuring a crowd will be in attendance.
Eddie Hearn's entire autumn schedule looks set to play out behind closed doors, with a slight hope remaining that Anthony Joshua's Dec. 12 defence of the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles vs. Kubrat Pulev will be able to welcome ticket-buying fans.
Will the completely different environment affect how Chisora's fight with Usyk pans out?
He said: "Both me and Oleksandr like the sound of the crowd, and we’re gonna have to find another way of boosting ourselves up when we’re in the later rounds — the money rounds."
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Dereck Chisora airs live Oct. 31 on Sky Sports Box Office in the U.K. and on DAZN in the U.S. and other DAZN regions.