• Heavyweight

Chisora among likely WBC title challengers

ESPN staff
December 20, 2013
Chisora takes a Klitschko punch during his WBC title shot in February 2012 © PA Photos
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A world title challenge for London's Dereck Chisora could be just around the corner following Vitali Klitschko's decision to vacate the WBC heavyweight title.

While Chris Arreola and Bermane Stiverne look set to fight for the vacated title sometime in early 2014, the WBC are planning to order a series of fights to determine the mandatory challenger to the next champion.

Chisora is ranked sixth and is expected to be a considered by the WBC as a mandatory challenger, which means a shot at the crown could be just one fight away.

The 29-year-old has already challenged for the WBC belt, putting up a credible performance against Klitschko in 2012 when he lost a unanimous decision to the Ukrainian.

Since that fight he has put his career back on track after the fall-out of his controversial bout against fellow Brit David Haye, and former boxer and pundit Jim Watt has backed Chisora to be a contender.

"I think he is [world champion material]," Watt told Sky Sports News. "His reputation was raised after the performance he put in against Klitschko and I think he is much more business-like in what he does.

"I think he takes the game a lot more seriously than he did at one time and Dereck is another one who could very well be in the mix. He probably feels he has a stronger claim than Tyson Fury although Tyson Fury is unbeaten."

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