A dispute over gloves has emerged ahead of the scheduled fight between Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder, with officials reportedly refusing to approve the gloves selected by the American.
The issue is understood to have arisen during the mandatory glove selection and rules meeting, which typically takes place on the day of the weigh-in, one day before the fight.
The meeting is meant to be attended by both fighters, their trainers and managers, promoters, and representatives from the relevant sanctioning body or athletic commission.
It’s believed the board informed Wilder’s team that his gloves were not compliant with regulations and would therefore not be approved for use during tomorrow’s clash at the O2.
It’s unclear what gloves Wilder had provided, but under standard rules, any custom-made gloves must be submitted to the commission several weeks in advance for inspection of their padding and materials.
Wilder reportedly insisted he would not proceed with the fight unless he is allowed to wear his chosen gloves. However, officials are understood to have maintained their position.
A dispute over gloves has emerged ahead of the scheduled fight between Derek Chisora (pictured left) and Deontay Wilder (pictured right)
The officials are reportedly refusing to approve the gloves selected by the American (above)
The bout at the O2 on Saturday night carries added significance for both men, with the heavyweight showdown marking the 50th professional fight for each of them
It is believed that Chisora was not present at the glove meeting. Despite the dispute, he reportedly has no objection to Wilder wearing the gloves in question and could be willing to proceed under those conditions.
At this stage, it remains unclear whether the disagreement will have any impact on the fight going ahead as planned. Although, there seems very little panic from those on the ground.
The bout at the O2 on Saturday night carries added significance for both men, with the heavyweight showdown marking the 50th professional fight for each of them.
For Chisora, it is expected to be the final chapter of a long and punishing career, with the veteran previously indicating he intends to retire after reaching the milestone.
The 40-year-old has built a reputation as one of the division’s toughest and most durable fighters, sharing the ring with multiple world champions over the course of nearly two decades.
For Wilder, the contest represents an opportunity to reset after a difficult recent run. The former WBC heavyweight champion has suffered a series of high-profile defeats and is seeking a convincing victory to re-establish himself in the division.
A win over Chisora could put Wilder back in contention for major fights, while another setback would raise further questions about his future at the top level.