Chisora and Haye go separate ways ahead of Parker rematch
Derek Chisora and manager David Haye to cease partnership before a rematch with Joseph Parker
Credit: Sky Sports
Derek Chisora (32-11, 23KOs) is moving away from former rival-turned manager David Haye. The two fighters who have a storied relationship in and out of the ring and have been collaborating since 2019 are parting ways amicably amid negotiations of a rematch with Joseph Parker (29-2, 21KOs). In May, Chisora faced Parker for the first time when the two fighters met in Manchester, where after a grueling 12 rounds, Parker emerged the winner with a split decision victory.
"Whilst I will no longer be managing Derek, I will naturally continue to follow and support his career with great interest," said Haye in an interview with Sky Sports.
"Everyone close to me thought I was crazy when I told them I wanted David to manage me, but in the last two and a half years my performances in the ring have spoken for themselves," Chisora told Sky Sports.
However, the split raises some questions and concerns as there was almost no indication of the break. Haye may be going his own way as a result of Chisora's somewhat lackluster record since the two joined forces, with the aged fighter losing three out of his last six bouts.
His most recent fights were back-to-back losses, the first being Oct. 31, 2020 loss to mandatory WBO challenger Oleksandr Usyk and then Parker. One of the people who think this might be the case is none other than David Higgins, Parker's manager.
Higgins thinks that when Parker attains a stoppage win in his upcoming rematch with Chisora that the 37-year-old British boxer's career will functionally come to an end.
"I think Haye realises that Joseph Parker is going to knock Chisora out and put him into retirement, and so maybe he wants to jump off the ship before it sinks," Higgins told Sky Sports.
"If Joseph were to finish Chisora by stoppage, which we think he will, then it's the end of meaningful boxing matches for Chisora," Higgins said.
Win or lose, it is quite clear that Chisora will have a hard time climbing back to any meaningful position within the heavyweight division, especially amid the near-constant delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.