Dogli Wilberforce
A late issue over gloves has added tension ahead of the heavyweight fight between Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder at The O2 Arena. The bout is set for Saturday night and marks Chisora’s 50th professional fight, which he has said will be his final appearance.
Wilder, a former WBC champion, comes into the contest with experience and knockout power. The fight has drawn strong attention, but events at Friday’s weigh-in have raised concerns. A disagreement over glove selection caused a delay and led to public comments from both the promoter and Wilder. Despite the situation, organisers have moved to keep the fight on schedule.
Glove Issue Surfaces at Weigh-In
The problem began during a closed-door weigh-in on Friday morning. Promoter Kalle Sauerland confirmed in an interview with iFLTV that there was a dispute, but said it was not unusual in major fights.
“First of all, no panic on the Titanic here, it’s not our first rodeo. It’s also not the first time there’s been a big flare-up around big heavyweight fights and gloves. It’s also not the first fight ever involving Deontay Wilder, involving gloves.”
He said the situation developed during the session and drew attention.
“So yeah, it was all too plain sailing. Yes, there were some dramatics this morning at the weigh-in.”
The comments showed that while there was tension, the team expected to resolve the matter.
Deontay Wilder Explains Glove Concern
Wilder addressed the issue later at the public weigh-in. He said the concern was linked to his history of hand injuries and surgeries.
“It was my issue, I’ve broken my hand so many times, and the glove that was provided… As you can see, all the surgeries that I’ve had… I just want to be comfortable in the ring,” Wilder said.
He explained that the gloves did not fit properly and felt too tight.
“We had an issue with the gloves being too tight on my hands. We’re gonna see what happens, we’ll get it straightened out. I just wanna be right, I wanna be comfortable [to] where there’s no excuses.”
Wilder made it clear that his goal was to enter the fight without any limitations caused by equipment.
Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder Set to go Ahead at O2 Arena
Chisora was not involved in the glove discussions and did not object to the situation. He attended the public face-off and appeared in a Tyson Fury mask. Both fighters also made weight, with Chisora at 266.7 pounds and Wilder at 226.4 pounds.
Organisers expect the issue to be resolved, and the fight is set to proceed as planned on DAZN pay-per-view. The bout remains important for both fighters. Chisora enters what he has described as his final fight, while Wilder continues his career following recent results.
The glove situation highlights how last-minute details can affect a major event. Even so, officials have worked to ensure the fight moves forward without further delay.
