Finchley’s Dereck Chisora wants to send out a message to Tyson Fury and the rest of the heavyweight division when he faces Kevin Johnson on Saturday.

WBO and WBA intercontinental champion Chisora heads the bill at the Copper Box Arena while Fury takes on Joey Abell, a late replacement for Gonzalo Omar Basile, on the undercard.

It is the 30-year-old’s first fight of 2014 and he goes into the bout on the back of four successive victories.

Chisora is targeting four big fights this year and believes he can make a statement in east London at the weekend.

“I want to send a big message to Fury and the rest of the heavyweights out there,” Chisora told BBC Sport.

Chisora and Fury have met once before back in July 2011 and the Finchley fighter lost to his less experienced opponent on points. Chisora is now a much stronger boxer and a rematch between the pair could take place in June.

However, Chisora’s current focus is on New Jersey fighter Johnson, who has not been stopped in his professional career.

The 30-year-old admits the American will prove a difficult opponent to overcome despite losing three of his last four fights.

“He’s a tough boy – he’s taken Fury and (Vitali) Klitschko the distance,” Chisora said.

“The focus is on Johnson for this fight but Fury will be there in the background and he’s next.”