Dillian Whyte should get the better of Dereck Chisora again

Heavyweight bout
Sky Sports Box Office, 10pm Saturday

Christmas is love, Christmas is peace, a time for hating and fighting to cease - that's according to Sir Cliff Richard's yuletide classic Mistletoe & Wine - but Sir Cliff is advised to stick on a Wimbledon bloopers DVD and stay well away from Sky Sports Box Office on Saturday night because war seems inevitable when heavyweight warriors Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora clash for a second time.

A megabucks spring date with Anthony Joshua could be the prize for the winner, but both fighters will be firmly focused on each other at London's O2 Arena and if it's anything like their 12-round 2016 slugfest expect the Christmas hits to be coming thick and fast.

"That has taken me back to the Ali days, the Frazier days. I've not seen a heavyweight fight like that for twenty years. What a contest", proclaimed Tony Bellew from ringside after it was announced Whyte had won a razor-thin split decision, and it's Whyte who will start as the favourite to win the rematch.

Plenty has happened to both fighters in the two years since.

Consistently inconsistent as always, Chisora lost a European title challenge that he was expected to win against little-known Agit Kabayel via another close decision, then seemed to be on the way to another defeat Carlos Takam before an astonishing eighth round saw him flatten the former world-title contender.

Del Boy claims to have recently "found God", and has even teamed up with former bitter adversary David Haye, who has been looking after his promotion and aspects of his training alongside long-term coach Don Charles.

"If it turns into a slugfest I'll be happy", said Haye. "If it's a long-range boxing match Whyte has a very, very good chance of winning on points. If it turns into a slugfest and Dillion stands toe-to-toe with Chisora he's got real problems".

Haye often talks rubbish, but that makes sense. Chisora's technical skills have never been his best attribute but he has serious power and, when fully motivated, he has the heart of a lion.

Whyte's great epiphany came against Joshua three years ago, at the moment of his only professional defeat. He lost that fight by KO, but not before putting some serious dents into the previously unblemished golden armour of the 2012 Olympic champ.

That convinced Whyte that he belonged at the highest level and his progress from self-proclaimed street thug to world-class athlete since that night has been extremely impressive.

July's win over former world champion Joseph Parker demonstrated he is ready for the likes of Joshua, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder and a win over Chisora could get him into that club.

As Haye says, Whyte's best chance is to keep the fight at range, and while he loves a scrap he is smart enough to know not to fall into Chisora's trap.

It could be frantic in the early stages, but expect Whyte to find a rhythm in the middle rounds and start to dictate things with his superior jab.

Both men have the power to pull a KO out of the bag at any stage, but the most likely conclusion is that Chisora falls just short once again and Whyte comes out on the right side of another decision.

Recommendation
D Whyte by decision
1pt 11-8 Hills, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power

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