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Warren talks up Chisora's world title prospects

Dereck Chisora is on something of a losing streak © PA Photos

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Frank Warren believes Dereck Chisora has as good a chance of becoming Britain's next heavyweight world champion as David Price or Tyson Fury.

Chisora saw his British Boxing licence restored this week, after 13 months in something approaching the boxing wilderness following an unseemly spat with fellow heavyweight David Haye in Munich last year.

A subsequent fight with Haye - sanctioned by the Luxembourg Boxing Board of Control - was the 29-year-old's third successive defeat inside the ring, but regaining his British licence means he can now pursue further big-name domestic fights.

Chisora will return to action in April on the undercard of light-heavyweight Nathan Cleverly's world title defence, but Warren will then target a meeting with recently-beaten Liverpool heavyweight David Price.

"Thirteen months have now passed since Munich and, following a course of anger management, there are signs that he [Chisora] is belatedly acquiring the mental and emotional maturity that will allow him to realise his considerable potential," Warren said, in a column on his website.

"After shedding a few cobwebs and hopefully accruing a much needed win in a 10-round international contest on the undercard of Nathan Cleverly's world title defence at Wembley Arena on April 20th, I'll be looking to manoeuvre 'Del Boy' straight back into championship contention - ideally in a crack at Price for his old belts at a big arena this summer.

"That would accord both with an opportunity for redemption and would certainly get the juices flowing."

He added: "For me, Chisora is equally as big a prospective British world champion as the more touted Price or Tyson Fury. The latter registered an impressive 12 round points win over Chisora at Wembley in July 2011 when Del was at his absolute worst; over-weight and riddled with personal problems. However, I'm not sure big Tyson could repeat the trick if Chisora brought his 'A' game."

Despite his shocking recent record, Warren is confident Chisora can climb to the very top of boxing's heavyweight division over the next few years.

"Heavyweights bloom later than fighters in lighter divisions and Chisora is still only 29," Warren noted. "At his best, Chisora is bull strong, deceptively skilful, combative and courageous. He has always been cast as the 'pantomime villain' if it helps shift tickets and, anyway, a bit of 'edge' has certainly never harmed in the fight business. Loved or loathed, he's never ignored.

"I have never condoned the well chronicled antics that led to his licence being revoked last April but have always found Dereck to be an articulate, charismatic and amiable individual."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.