DEREK CHISORA has urged the entire UK to get behind Anthony Joshua to save British boxing from the doldrums.
The 37-year-old slugger has been a mentor to AJ, 32, since their days at Finchley ABC together and Chisora tried to advise his protege on how best to face Oleksandr Usyk in September.
The veteran nicknamed War gave the southpaw some tough early rounds before losing a decision, 11 months before his mate lost his WBA, IBF and WBO titles to the Ukraine ace on a punishing night in Tottenham.
But he expects the London 2012 legend to bounce back – with a new training regime and coach expected to be confirmed in the new year – to wrestle back his titles.
Ahead of Saturday night’s rematch with Joseph Parker, Del Boy said: “AJ has the rematch and he will win it, we are not looking at anything else apart from that.
“If AJ retires today, he packs it in and goes, boxing is f*****. Boxing journalists, magazines, YouTube channels are all f***** – even I am f*****. Eddie especially is f*****.
“AJ has lifted the whole sport up, changed it all and got us all paid much more, so we need to back him to get the win.
“When AJ and Tyson Fury retire who the f*** are all you guys going to write about? So while he is in the game we all need to get behind him.
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“Seven years ago everyone was bored to s*** of the Klitschkos or even Matt Skelton, in the UK, it was f****** bulls***.
“So everyone better enjoy AJ and what he brings to the sport now.”
It felt like everyone outside AJ’s corner knew the 6ft 6in powerhouse had to impose himself on the former undisputed cruiserweight king when they clashed in North London.
But a questionable gameplan and some woeful encouragement between rounds from AJ’s assistant trainers, culminated in the Watford ace losing a unanimous decision.
But Chisora insists the golden boy has taken the loss like a man and has not needed advice on how to handle defeat.
He said: “AJ is dealing with it very well. He knows what he has to do and what he has to change and he is doing that now.
“He is a man, a grown man and he is dealing with it that way. I don’t have to talk to him.
“I saw him straight after the Usyk fight and I told him to just come back and be better than ever and he will do.”
