Deontay Wilder vs Derek Chisora Nearly Called Off After Major Boxing Glove Dispute
The heavyweight showdown between Deontay Wilder and Derek Chisora was thrown into chaos just hours before fight night, with a serious boxing glove dispute nearly forcing the bout to be called off.
The fight, set to be a huge moment in the heavyweight division and potentially the final outing of Chisora’s career, was overshadowed by technical concerns surrounding the boxing gloves. Promoter Kalle Sauerland confirmed the situation escalated at the weigh in, stating, “Yes, there were some dramas this morning at the weigh in. There are some issues around the gloves, I can confirm that.”
According to reports, Wilder’s camp raised concerns that Chisora had selected a non-approved brand of gloves.
At the same time, there were questions about the glove weight, with the pair appearing closer to 12oz rather than the standard 10oz used in heavyweight contests. The issue created serious tension between both teams and briefly put the fight in doubt.
Sauerland attempted to calm the situation, adding, “It’s not the first time there has been a flare up around big heavyweight fights and the gloves.” Despite that, the scale of the disagreement made it one of the biggest last minute controversies in recent heavyweight bouts.
SHOP: Kickboxing Equipment
A familiar controversy in heavyweight boxing
Glove disputes are nothing new for either fighter, which only adds more intrigue to this latest situation.
Wilder has previously been involved in major controversy following his fights with Tyson Fury, where he accused Fury of tampering with his gloves. Those claims dominated headlines at the time and remain one of the most talked about disputes in modern boxing.
Chisora has also faced issues in the past. In a previous bout, he wore boxing gloves from Fly Sports that raised concerns after the colour began distorting during the fight. The situation led to scrutiny from the World Boxing Council (WBC), with the brand receiving a temporary ban.
Speaking on the current issue, Sauerland reiterated that discussions were ongoing and the situation was being handled behind the scenes. “There are some issues around the gloves,” he said again, reinforcing the seriousness of the matter while remaining confident it would be resolved.
With officials stepping in and both camps in talks, the fight ultimately remains on. However, the drama has already added another explosive layer to an already high stakes clash, with all eyes now on what happens when both heavyweights finally step into the ring.
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