DEREK CHISORA loves Anthony Joshua too much to fight him – but he wants to flatten him at the school sports day.
The fearless 41-year-old warhorse adopted AJ as a little brother when he spotted him coming through Finchley ABC almost 20 years ago.
Joshua has a close bond with fellow boxing star Chisora[/caption]
Joshua, now 35, was a tear-up loving teenage bricklayer teetering on the edge of a life of crime, while Chisora was a Zimbabwean mummy’s boy struggling to fit in anywhere.
The pair bonded and – despite incredible records of fighting almost all of the best giants of this era – have never entertained the idea of a mega-money fight between themselves.
But now Del’s 10-year-old daughter Angelina and the London 2012 legend’s heir JJ are at the some North London primary school, mentoring and compassion have been subbed off for teasing and competition.
Ahead of his 49th professional bout with Otto Wallin on Saturday, Chisora revealed: “I wind AJ up because our kids go to the same school and I tell him they’re organising a dads’ race for sports day.
“I call AJ and say, ‘It’s sports day – make sure you’re coming!’ I’m serious.
“He hasn’t been for the last few but I say, ‘Bro, it’s sports day, you’re coming’.”
A fleet of luxury cars belonging to the British ring heroes, as well as JLS star Marvin Humes and comedian David Walliams, drop their kids off to the same posh school.
It’s unlikely any of the sporting icons or celebrities use the local bus service.
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But 18st hulk Chisora reckons the parents could be in for a shock if they spot him or his boxing-addicted protege hanging about for public transport near the school gates.
“Boxing is an addictive sport,” he said with his 50th and final fight looming. I don’t care what you say – it’s a drug sport, it’s like heroin.
“You go to the amateur gym for the first time and all of a sudden you’re waiting for the bus shadow boxing.
“And people say, ‘What the f*** is wrong with you?’ Every fighter does it, all the greatest fighters do it.
“You know who the biggest shadow boxer in the world is? Anthony Joshua.
“That mother f***er cannot have a conversation without jumping up and shadow boxing and I’m the same around my house.
“People wonder what the f*** we are doing and tell us just to chill out.”
Another thing the North London pair have in common is decision defeats to Ukraine’s undisputed heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk.
Oleksandr Usyk ‘gives PTSD’
The 38-year-old Brit basher knocked Tony Bellew spark out, outpointed Chisora, left AJ in tears after back-to-back schoolings, broke Daniel Dubois with a jab and just retired Tyson Fury with two dominant displays.
There is something utterly maverick about the God-fearing gap-toothed southpaw, who wears a giant Greek Orthodox cross under his latest Stone Island jumper.
And, after 12 hard rounds and a couple of London sauna sessions together, Chisora can explain it better than anyone.
“That Ukrainian guy gives you PTSD,” he said
“He made my young brother cry on the stage, he made Tyson Fury retire. Nobody can deal with him.
“I sat down with him a couple of weeks ago. I asked him where he lives now, he said: ‘Ukraine. Yesterday my security told me to go in the bomb shelter but I said ‘no’. Rockets are flying past my house but me, I sleep’.
“When he’s telling me this story, I ask myself, ‘What do you have to have to beat him?’ The guy is lying down and rockets are flying past his house.
“While you’re in your big house in Knightsbridge where the only problem you have is taxis beeping outside your door. How do you beat a guy like that? You have to have craziness.”
How AJ punched his way to the top
ANTHONY JOSHUA punched his way to the top of the world before being knocked off his perch.
From humble origins in Watford to Olympic hero, the boxer has made a heavyweight impact in and out of the ring.
Eddie Hearn claims a collision with rival Tyson Fury could be worth a whopping £200million.
The pair’s bitter feud saw them refuse to say a word to each other as they met Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.
Joshua has already hinted at when he will hang up his gloves.
And he revealed why his son will NEVER be allowed to box. despite amassing a £215m empire thanks to the sweet science.
AJ enjoys a lavish lifestyle including private jets and a £350k watch.
His career and sponsorship deals have seen him swap his council estate upbringing for a luxury car collection.
London hairdresser Kika Osunde is believed to have swept the KO king off his feet.
But Joshua still lives with his mum Yeta when he is not on the road.
Check out all our latest Anthony Joshua articles.
