BELLATOR promoter Scott Coker confirmed he has held talks with heavyweight boxer Dereck Chisora.
Chisora, 36, announced plans to make an MMA switch, as he grew frustrated with boxing’s pause amid the coronavirus pandemic.
His headliner against Oleksandr Usyk, 33, was axed in May but now looks set for October.
Chisora hopes to make his cage debut afterwards, with Coker all-in to work with the Londoner.
He told Sky Sports: “There is dialogue. We’d love to have him.
“If he has time in his schedule to compete in MMA, we’d love to put him in there and test him out.
“Depending on his schedule we’d love to get him into our rotation, if time permits.
“He has so many boxing fights but it is still a different experience to fight with little gloves, and in a cage would be an adjustment.
“I picture a fun opponent for him to compete with.
View this post on InstagramIt’s time to take the war to the cage
@bellatormma @kecks @shootfightersofficial #warchisora
(@derekwarchisora) on “We haven’t spoken about opponents or timing. It comes down to when he is available.
“Let’s get it on! He brings a lot to the table.”
Chisora has been training at London Shootfighters academy, to help improve his clinch work in prep to face Usyk.
But it soon turned into full blown MMA training, with Bellator star Michael Venom Page involved.
MVP said: “He is around us a lot. We train together a lot, do our fitness together.
“He has jumped into a couple of sessions with us, to see what it’s about.
“But I see where his passion is. It is in boxing. From what I see, his focus should be on boxing.”
Chisora’s promoter Eddie Hearn is also planning a splash into MMA.
And he said a trilogy bout between Chisora and old rival Dillian Whyte in the cage is possible.
Whyte won both previous fights, firstly on a split-decision and them by round 11 KO.
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