ITV forced to cut short boxing veteran Derek Chisora’s Cheltenham Festival interview after controversial remark

Derek Chisora’s live interview with ITV at Cheltenham did not go to plan on Tuesday, with the broadcaster forced to call a premature end to their chat with the boxing veteran.

The heavyweight contender was in attendance for the opening day of this year’s Festival and was all too happy to speak to ITV about the upcoming races.

Attention quickly turned to Wednesday’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

Asked for his thoughts on the race, Chisora gave his full backing to Ballyburn, and urged viewers to ‘put your house on it’ that he would win.

ITV were taken aback by Chisora’s response and quickly cut away from the 41-year-old as their commentator hastily added: ‘No no don’t do that’.

Ballyburn, who is trained by Willie Mullins, will be ridden by Paul Townend in tomorrow’s race when it gets underway at 2pm.

Derek Chisora, pictured alongside England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (right), had his ITV interview cut short

Chisora (second left), pictured alongside Anthony Crolla (second right), William Crolla (right) and Mail Sport’s Kevin Quigley (left) urged punters to ‘put your house’ on Ballyburn winning

Chisora made his controversial remark on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival

He is the favourite to win with Paddy Power.

Despite the controversial remark, Chisora appeared to enjoy his day as he posed for pictures with England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, as well as former boxing world champion Anthony Crolla, his brother William, and Mail Sport’s own Kevin Quigley. 

Chisora is a former two-time heavyweight title challenger, but fell short on both occasions against Vitali Klitschko and Tyson Fury.

He beat former Anthony Joshua opponent Otto Wallin at the O2 Arena in February in a fight that was dubbed ‘The Last Dance’.

That bout is expected to be Chisora’s final one on UK soil, but he wants to have one more fight abroad to complete his goal of having 50 professional contests.

He could be set for one final big payday in Saudi Arabia later this year before finally hanging up his gloves.

Chisora currently has a professional record of 36 wins, with 23 coming inside the distance, and 13 losses.