British boxing icon Derek Chisora has revealed he is using prescribed medical cannabis to cope with the brutal toll of more than two decades in the ring.
The 42-year-old fighter, famed for his ferocious style and punishing career, says years of beatings have left him battling chronic pain ‘from my knees to my hands’.
Now the veteran boxer is speaking out about his experience as he launches a new platform called WarOnPain, aimed at helping millions of Britons suffering with long-term pain better understand the UK’s legal medical cannabis system.
Chisora, who fought 50 professional bouts and challenged for world titles during one of British boxing’s toughest careers, says the hidden damage of boxing only became fully clear later in life.
‘People see the fights, the knockouts, the entertainment,’ he said. ‘What they don’t see is what happens afterwards – the years your body carries the damage, the recovery and the pain you live with every day.
‘When you’re younger, your body recovers quickly. But now I’m in my 40s, after more than 20 years in boxing, I regularly deal with chronic pain from my knees to my hands.’
British boxing icon Derek Chisora (above) has revealed he is using prescribed medical cannabis to cope with the brutal toll of more than two decades in the ring
Chisora pictured facing off with Deontay Wilder ahead of their clash in London on April 4
The former fan favourite, who has teased a return to the sport as he looks to rematch Deontay Wilder, stressed his treatment is entirely legal and medically supervised.
‘This isn’t about recreational cannabis,’ he said. ‘It’s about access to proper medical treatment in a safe and regulated way.’
Chisora has already had a doctor-led consultation through his WarOnPain platform and has now been prescribed his medical cannabis through a regulated online pharmacy.
Chisora’s medical cannabis comes in a 10g dose pouch of dry cannabis herb flower with 27% THC and <1% CBD, and he administers it using a dry herb vaporiser, as prescribed by a specialist clinician.
Chisora will discuss his experience at Cannabis Europa at London’s Barbican Centre on May 26 as debate grows over Britain’s rapidly expanding private medical cannabis industry.
Although cannabis-based medicines were legalised in the UK in 2018, more than 99 per cent of prescriptions are still privately funded.
A recent YouGov poll found 73 per cent of Britons believe doctors should be allowed to prescribe cannabis for medical use.
Chisora said he believes there is still widespread confusion around the law.
‘Too many people still don’t realise medical cannabis is legal in the UK when prescribed by a specialist doctor,’ he said.
‘We need more education for patients, greater awareness among healthcare professionals and more research into how cannabis-based medicines could support those living with chronic pain and PTSD.’
The boxer said he also wants to help former athletes, military veterans and others silently struggling with physical and mental health issues.
Chisora, who fought 50 professional bouts and challenged for world titles during one of British boxing’s toughest careers, says the hidden damage of boxing only became fully clear later
Derek has already had a doctor-led consultation through his WarOnPain platform and has now been prescribed his medical cannabis through a regulated online pharmacy
‘And this goes far beyond boxing,’ he added. ‘I know former athletes, veterans and people from all walks of life who are struggling quietly every day – physically and mentally. Many feel like they’ve run out of options.’
As part of the launch, Chisora has undertaken his own specialist-led medical cannabis treatment journey to better understand how prescriptions are issued in the UK.
WarOnPain has partnered with Grow Group Limited, a company operating in Britain’s medical cannabis sector, while the cannabis itself is supplied by pharmaceutical-grade producer Safricanna in South Africa.
Chisora recently visited a Nottingham facility where he saw his medical cannabis for the first time and personally weighed and packed the first dose intended for approved patients.
