Dereck Chisora has confirmed a link-up with Buddy McGirt, the 2002 Boxing Writers Association of America trainer of the year, ahead of his May 1 clash with Joseph Parker in which a win could earn him a second crack at a world title.
Chisora has shown signs of a potential "Indian summer" under the guidance of former rival turned business manager David Haye, but an improved performance wasn't enough to conquer Oleksandr Usyk on Oct. 31 last year.
Steve Broughton served as trainer for that Halloween night dust-up, but McGirt — who has trained Arturo Gatti, Antonio Tarver, Hasim Rahman, Paulie Malignaggi, Matthew Macklin and Sergey Kovalev — steps in for the Parker fight.
Announcing the switch on social media, Chisora wrote: 'Building on the team, preparing for war!'
He recently said: "I'm looking forward to the fight, I cannot wait to get back in the ring! I love fighting, it is what I love the most.
"Good luck to Joseph Parker and his new team, we shall see you for WAR on May 1!"
With the WBO looking very likely to strip their version of the heavyweight title away from the winner of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury's planned unification megafight, the winner of Chisora vs. Parker will be in a very healthy position to challenge one of the sanctioning body's top two contenders, Usyk and Joe Joyce, later in 2021.