In the lead-up to the heavyweight showdown between Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder, DAZN has teamed up with VOXY Media House to produce a commercial film alongside a two-part documentary capturing the fighters’ journeys through training camp.
The UK-based creative production company VOXY Media House was assigned to deliver a campaign film titled Deep Waters, as well as the On The Ground documentary series. Both were produced at the same time, despite the fighters being located in different parts of the world.
The On The Ground series takes viewers inside each camp, documenting the daily preparation, routines and mindset of both fighters. Production took place in Alabama with Deontay Wilder and in London with Derek Chisora, showcasing two very different training settings.
The idea behind the Deep Waters commercial stemmed from a moment during the fighters’ Face Off, where discussions around retirement and life after boxing emerged. Wilder remarked: “He’s in the retirement stage of his life. He’s trying to take me with him so we can go fishing.”
The creative vision involved placing both fighters together in a lakeside environment, echoing that exchange. However, due to geographical and logistical challenges, this could not be achieved in a single location.
Instead, the production team filmed in both Alabama and London separately. Body doubles were used for certain shots, while each fighter was recorded individually using green screen setups within their own training camps. These visuals were later combined during post-production to create a unified scene.
Ryan Connor, Co-Founder of VOXY Media House, said: “It’s always a privilege stepping inside a fighter’s camp. Not just to see how they train, but how they live day to day. Deontay is a unique character. Funny, cool, eccentric, but also one of the hardest workers I’ve come across.
“We went for dinner with him and his team, heard stories from his past, present and his plans for the future. Deonte also took us to see his statue in Tuscaloosa. You can see why he’s achieved what he has. Getting the best out of fighters comes down to creating an environment where they feel comfortable.
“That’s something me and Joe Mitchinson – Co Founder of Voxy Media House have built over the last 10 years working closely with the sports biggest names like Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury and many more.”
Following the US shoot, the crew returned to the UK to film Derek Chisora’s preparations in London.
This involved capturing moments within his local community, as well as documenting recovery sessions and media duties. The final output offers two contrasting perspectives ahead of the fight, while the commercial piece blends both fighters into a single narrative through post-production.
Derek Chisora is scheduled to face Deontay Wilder at The O2 Arena in London on Saturday, 4 April.
