“We’re in negotiations, and it’s close,” Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel said. Sky Sports.
That’s how far anyone involved is willing to go publicly. Queensberry Promotions, which promotes Chisora, declined to comment.
For a while, it looked like Wilder was lining up something bigger. Unification champion Oleksandr Usyk has said he is open to defending his titles in America, and Wilder’s name is part of that conversation. That road stopped. Chisora remained at the scene.
The two did little to stir things up at last month’s IBA Pro 13 event in Dubai, where they engaged in a heated exchange that seemed intentional, even if nothing came of it.
Wilder fought last year. He stopped Tyrrell Anthony Herndon in seven rounds, his first appearance since being knocked out by Zhilei Zhang. The win settled things, but left open the big question of where exactly Wilder stands now.
Chisora, now 42 years old, has remained strong. Four of his last five fights, including wins over Joe Joyce and Kubrat Pulev. His most recent fight was last February, when he outpointed Otto Wallin twice and scored a clear decision.
Chisora made it clear that his next fight could be his last. Before Wilder moved to the stage, there was talk of a third fight with Dillian Whyte or a tag against Fabio Wardley.
If this deal goes through, it won’t be a soft landing for anyone. One leaves with real damage, and the result will be more telling of what is there than what was said last year.