THERE is not a cloud in the Saturday sky as Derek Chisora, cigar in hand, responds to the IBF’s decision to install him as the next mandatory challenger for their heavyweight championship of the world.

Other boxers have enjoyed Indian summers in their careers, but few have matched the one this 41-year-old from Finchley is currently experiencing.

It is not labouring the point to say that the first few calls for Chisora to retire came way back in 2017 when he dropped a majority decision to then 16-0 Agit Kabayel in Monte Carlo. It is a defeat that has aged well given what the German has done since.

Never one to listen to the doubters, Chisora has boxed 14 more times since then, including the second world title fight of his career, taking him to 49 outings split 36-13 with 23 KOs. He is without doubt one of the biggest cult heroes of his generation and one of the most popular active fighters in Britain right now.

The target, as we now know, is 50, with his final fight set to take place some time before the end of the year. A showdown in Africa against 0-2 Francis Ngannou had been suggested, so had a trilogy fight with Dillian Whyte, who has beaten him twice.

But this week, the IBF ensured that the final fight of his unforgettable rollercoaster career will be far more feted than either of those, with Chisora now almost certain to close his career with a third crack at the heavyweight championship of the world.

His most recent outing, a brilliant 12-round beatdown of Otto Wallin in Manchester, was an eliminator for the IBF belt, but few had expected it to be a final one. But the sanctioning body have confirmed that with Daniel Dubois’ mandatory due on June 21, and a bout due to be ordered on April 22, there is not enough time for a final eliminator. Chisora, eight years on from defeat in Monte Carlo, has hit the jackpot.

The fly in the ointment, however, is that Dubois is already in talks for an undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk, The Ring Magazine champion, who holds the WBC, WBA and WBO titles. Any unification between the two of them will trump Chisora’s mandatory fight and the one ordered by the WBO between Usyk and Joseph Parker.

Now Chisora has called on Usyk, who has already stopped Dubois, to face the only contender he is yet to beat on his incredible run at heavyweight.

“Listen, man,” Chisora says. “I don't see Daniel and Oleksandr fighting right now. What are you going to fight for? Oleksandr has already stopped him.

“If he wants to prove he's the best he needs to defend his title against Joseph Parker. To be the best you have to fight everybody. He's boxed Tyson Fury twice, AJ twice. He's boxed me once. He's boxed Daniel Dubois once. So I think he should give a shot to Joseph Parker now.”

Such a scenario would be perfect for Chisora, as the path would then clear for him to face Dubois for the IBF title in his farewell fight. The clash with Wallin had been billed as his last one in the UK but that now seems unlikely, with Chisora plotting a London stadium outing for No.50.

“People have to think about business,” Chisora adds. “I want to fight Daniel and I know for a fact I can sell out Wembley or Tottenham in that fight.

“I want to give a shout out to the Manchester crowd who came out for my fight against Wallin and thanks to Frank Warren and Queensberry because it was unbelievable. It was a great show that ticked every box. But I knew what I was doing… it was not going to be the last one in the UK.

“Now I’ve been planning everything for this final fight, the whole music, everything. It’s going to be a great show and there are two concepts I'm working on. One is for Wembley and one is for Tottenham. Whatever happens, they're all going to be amazing.

“A Sunday bank holiday this summer is what I want. I think that would f***ing amazing.”

But he may be forced to wait if Usyk and Dubois manage to agree an undisputed fight next. It is put to Chisora that he could have a non-title fight this summer to take him to 50, before facing the winner for all the belts in his 51st outing.

“Nah man,” he smiles. “I’m 50 and out, definitely. I have to, I have to. I can't keep doing this. I’ve only got one more training camp in me. I'm feeling it now. So my final fight will be for the world title, it’s all or nothing, brother.”

Does that mean he could happily walk away from boxing as the world heavyweight champion, without ever making a lucrative defence?

“I could retire on that, definitely,” he adds. “I could just walk off into the sunset and leave everything there. That would be an amazing way to end it.”

So in an ideal world for Chisora, it’s Usyk-Parker and him against Dubois in the summer. But in the 27-year-old from Greenwich, Chisora would have to beat a man in the most devastating form of his career. Since losing to Usyk in August 2023, Dubois has stopped Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Joshua.

“Daniel is peaking right now,” Chisora says. “Daniel is on fire.

“If you let him take the first two rounds, he's going to destroy you. He's one of those fighters that if you just let him come out the gates without maintaining him, you’re in trouble. So when we fight Daniel the first two rounds are very crucial to us. We have to discipline him in the first two rounds so he goes back in his shell.

“After that, let’s see what happens.”

Ditto Chisora’s career. This Indian summer has got one more balmy evening to go.