Frank Warren leaps to the defence of Derek Chisora after the heavyweight headbutted a Deliveroo rider - as the promoter insists the boxing star was 'defending himself'

Frank Warren has leapt to the defence of Derek Chisora after the heavyweight boxer was filmed headbutting a Deliveroo rider.

Chisora, 40, had been having a meal with his two daughters on a street in Hampstead when the incident occurred.

Mail Sport understands Chisora asked the rider to dismount after they entered the narrow street, suggesting children and dogs could be hit.

An argument ensued after the cyclist refused, with Chisora allegedly having been provoked first before retaliating to the Deliveroo rider. Police were reportedly called to the scene, but no arrests were made following the incident. 

Warren, who is promoting Chisora's next fight, which will be against Joe Joyce, spoke to talkSPORT about the incident, and appeared to blame the rider.

'Derek was with his children and the delivery bloke started pushing Derek,' Warren said. 'Derek defended himself, that's how I see it.

'He was very disappointed it all happened. Apparently, they were eating and the guy caused a little bit of an issue. The police were called and that was the end of it. Nothing happened.'

'It's not a good thing for anybody, whether it's a boxer, footballer or someone who works in the bank. I mean, who wants to see that on the street? Nobody.'

Warren added that, as far as he was aware, the 40-year-old wouldn't be facing any criminal charges for the act.

He is pencilled in to take on Joyce at the O2 Arena on July 27. 

As far as Warren is aware, Chisora won't be facing any criminal charges for his actions, which he believes were clearly in self-defence.

'Just look at the video,' he added. 'You'll see the bloke comes to him and starts pushing his fist out and Derek did what he did. He was with his kids.

'That was it as far as I understand. It is what it is now. It's all over. The police were called. Nothing happened. They didn't arrest him or the delivery driver.'

The fight with Joyce is still expected to go ahead, with the former Olympian, who is also promoted by Warren, looking to continue climbing the heavyweight rankings after back to back defeats by Zhilei Zhang.

'It's on and I'm looking forward to it,' Warren added. 'It's quite an interesting fight.

'I said a couple of years ago I felt that Derek should be retiring, so he's going to be able to prove me wrong and we'll see who's right.'