• Vitali Klitschko v Dereck Chisora

Lennox slams Vitali-Chisora 'mismatch'

ESPN staff
February 18, 2012
Lennox Lewis beat Vitali Klitschko via stoppage in 2003 © Getty Images
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Former undisputed world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has warned fellow Brit Dereck Chisora that he is well out of his depth ahead of a WBC title clash with Vitali Klitschko on Saturday.

Lewis inflicted one of only two defeats to date in Klitschko's 45-fight career - by contrast, Chisora has clocked up just 17 pro contests, losing two of the last three. And Lewis feels that Chisora has not paid his dues, and instead has been catapulted to a level that lies beyond his capability.

"Chisora-Klitschko is a mismatch. In my era you couldn't have a world title fight 17 fights into your career," Lewis said. "At this stage it seems Chisora should be fighting for a European belt. He's still too green for Klitschko."

However, Chisora's promoter Frank Warren is taking heart from the experiences of Lewis, who was beaten by Hasim Rahman in stunning fashion during 2001.

"If confidence wins fights then Dereck has got a great head start," Warren said. "It's the old adage that 'styles make fights'. I know for a fact that Dereck is not going to be on the back foot. He's going to be in there, fighting and giving 100%. That's how he fights.

"I'm telling you, if there weren't upsets then the word wouldn't be in the dictionary. We've seen what's happened in the past with Rahman and Lewis, and we saw what happened in Tokyo when Tyson got beat. If anybody can do it again, it's Dereck who can. He's not there to make up the numbers."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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