Derek Chisora’s heavyweight clash with Deontay Wilder is close to being finalised and will be promoted by Kalle and Nisse Sauerland rather than Queensberry, Daily Mail Sport understands.
Negotiations are said to be at an advanced stage and could be completed this week, with the fight pencilled in for April in London, not Manchester as had been widely expected.
The Sauerland brothers’ involvement represents a significant development, with Chisora believed to be tied to Queensberry Promotions.
Discussions are ongoing over how the bout would be structured, though sources indicate Kalle and Nisse Sauerland are taking the lead in putting the event together.
As it stands, the fight will not take place under the MisFits Pro banner – the recently launched professional offshoot of crossover boxing giant Misfits Boxing, which is spearheaded by Amer Abdallah alongside the Sauerland and KSI.
Instead, the fight is set to be staged under Wasserman Boxing, the Sauerlands’ main promotional banner, which was formed in 2021 following Wasserman’s acquisition of Team Sauerland.
However, Daily Mail Sport understands there could be scope to include an MF Pro undercard once the headline bout is finalised. No such plans have been confirmed at this stage, with efforts currently focused on securing agreements for Chisora and Wilder.
Despite the optimism surrounding the talks, Chisora has been in similar positions before, with high-profile fights failing to materialise.
Derek Chisora’s heavyweight clash with Deontay Wilder is close to being finalised and will be promoted by Kalle and Nisse Sauerland rather than Queensberry
Chisora pictured knocking down Otto Wallin during their fight in February 2025
Negotiations are said to be at an advanced stage with Wilder and could be completed this week, with the fight pencilled in for April in London, not Manchester as had been expected
Daily Mail Sport understands the 42-year-old had previously signed to fight Wilder on December 13, only for the American to pull out after being contacted about a potential bout with Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk had been hopeful of securing a fight with Wilder in the United States, with the unified heavyweight champion keen to box on American soil and target a marquee name as part of that ambition.
However, with Wilder now close to committing to face Chisora for the British heavyweight’s 50th fight, Usyk is understood to be exploring alternative options.
Fabio Wardley has publicly stated his desire to fight at Madison Square Garden, while German heavyweight Agit Kabayel has also expressed interest in staging a bout with Usyk in his homeland.
As of last week, however, Team Usyk had not received any official offer from Kabayel’s side.
Meanwhile, Chisora was also due to face Dillian Whyte for a third time in December 2025, in a fight that was set to be promoted by Frank Warren. However, the bout collapsed in early November after Chisora withdrew amid disagreements over contractual terms.
Warren has also revealed that Chisora turned down a fight with Jarrell Miller, which had been discussed for December 13 in Manchester and billed as Chisora’s 50th and final professional contest.
That proposed clash initially stalled due to a contractual dispute between Miller and his former promoter Dmitry Salita, but Warren claims Chisora ultimately pulled the plug.
The fight is set to be staged under Wasserman Boxing, the Sauerlands’ main promotional banner, which was formed in 2021 following Wasserman’s acquisition of Team Sauerland
Usyk had been hopeful of securing a fight with Wilder in the US, with the unified heavyweight champion keen to box on American soil and target a marquee name as part of that ambition
‘He was originally going to fight Miller,’ Warren told BoxNation. ‘But Derek didn’t want to fight him. That’s all he said; that is the message I got back.’
Now, however, the veteran heavyweight appears poised for another major opportunity, with the Sauerland brothers pushing to bring his long-rumoured showdown with Wilder to fruition – provided the remaining contractual hurdles can be cleared.
