Former heavyweight world title challengers Dereck Chisora and Artur Szpilka will square off on July 20 at the O2 Arena in London, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn announced Thursday.
It's another notable heavyweight fight added to a card that already is headlined by the showdown between top contender Dillian Whyte and Oscar Rivas, who are meeting for the right to become the mandatory challenger for the world title held by Deontay Wilder, and also includes Dave Allen meeting David Price.
Chisora (30-9, 21 KOs), 35, of England, suffered an 11th-round knockout loss to Whyte in a tremendous action matchup in December but bounced back to for a near-shutout of Senad Gashi on April 20 in his first fight with trainer Dave Coldwell.
"July 20 is not going to be an easy night in the office, I know that," said Chisora, who lost a decision to Vitali Klitschko challenging for a world title in 2012. "Szpilka is an unpredictable come-forward southpaw. I will need to be in the best physical condition of my career to win this was, but I'm ready. Remember, I'm a true fighter. I love the heat of the battlefield, I'm at my most comfortable when most fighters would want to quit. July 20 is going to be explosive, Szpilka won't be hearing the final bell."
Szpilka (22-3, 15 KOs), 30, of Poland, has won two fights in a row since knockout losses to Wilder, whom he challenged for a world title in 2016, and Adam Kownacki, a fellow countryman and a rising contender, in 2017.
"I chose this fight because we are both crazy men and it's going to be a crazy fight," said Szpilka, who still aspires to become the first Polish fighter to win a heavyweight world title. "Chisora is a good fighter. He is bull strong and he can box well. He turns up to every fight in great condition, so I know it is going to be a tough night for me. We are both warriors who like to fight, this will be violent.
"I'm relishing the opportunity to fight in front of all my U.K. fans for the first time in career. I know that there is a proud Polish community in London and I'm sure they will turn out in their numbers to get behind me."