By Johnny Walker
Heavyweights Dereck Chisora (16-4, 10 KOs) of the UK and Malik Scott (35-0-1, 12 KOs) of the USA weighed in today for their scheduled clash tomorrow at the Wembley Arena in London, England. The weigh took place at weigh-in at Fredericks restaurant in Islington, North London, and was free of the kind of incidents that have cropped up at Chisora weigh-ins in the past (kissing, slapping, etc.).
Chisora weighed in at a muscular 242 pounds, with his opponent 10 pounds lighter at a fit 232.
Chisora’s physique is impressive, indicating that the British boxer knows how important this bout for the vacant WBO International Heavyweight title is for his career. Chisora is coming off of a string of losses: one of those was most certainly a robbery (a split decision to Robert Helenius), another a strong but ultimately losing effort against WBC champion Vitali Klitschko, with the most recent being the “grudge match” defeat to countryman David Haye, where he managed to shake up the Hayemaker before succumbing to a 5th round KO.
While Chisora certainly showed his worth in all of the above defeats, a loss to Scott, basically a journeyman and professional sparring partner with an undefeated record, and a guy who fights in a frustratingly negative manner, would do great harm to his efforts to rise once again to the upper echelons of the heavyweight division. No doubt it will take a tremendous effort to solve the slippery, counterpunching, evasive Scott, one that will entail cutting off the ring and forcing the American to engage. Chisora at least looks fit enough to accomplish the task at hand.
Weights from other scheduled bouts on the Behind Enemy Lines card:
WBO International Middleweight Champion Gary O’Sullivan weighed in slightly under the limit at 11st 5lb ¾oz with his challenger Billy Joe Saunders coming in bang-on at 11st 6lbs (160lbs) in the chief-supporting contest.
Unbeaten London super-middleweight sensation Frank Buglioni, who features in an eight-round international contest on the card, was 12st 1lb (169lbs) and his opponent Kirill Psonko was 12st (168lbs).
2008 Olympian and unbeaten pro Bradley Saunders was 10st 3½lbs (143½lbs) for his six-round welterweight contest against Michael Kelly, who came in at 10st 3lbs (143lbs)