BOXING NEWS:DERECK CHISORA is so far taking the brunt of the fallout from his brawl with David Haye in the early hours of Sunday morning in Munich, but there could be worse than public opprobrium to come for both fighters.
The German boxing federation confirmed yesterday it was withholding $100,000 (€75,000) of Chisora’s purse from his world title bout with Vitali Klitschko at the Olympiahalle, pending a police investigation into the fracas, and the British Boxing Board of Control has ordered the London heavyweight to attend a disciplinary hearing on March 14th, when he is likely to be suspended, possibly for as long as a year, and heavily fined.
That could be the least of his worries. Given two previous convictions for assault and the fact that the German authorities have in the past come down hard on professional boxers involved in public disorder offences, Chisora, as well as Haye, could go to prison.
Jurgen Brahmer, a former world champion who was due to fight the Welshman Nathan Cleverly last year and has only recently resumed boxing after nearly two years out of the ring, has served prison time for assault.
Haye, who last night had still not revealed his whereabouts, is yet to respond to widely circulated calls by the German police to return to Munich after fleeing the scene in the early hours of Sunday morning and to explain his part in a fracas that shamed their sport.
The former WBA world champion gate-crashed the post-fight press conference to goad Klitschko into accepting a fight with him and ended up at the middle of a melee that left a cut on the head of his trainer and manager, Adam Booth, and ended with Chisora threatening to shoot him.
It was this inflammatory conclusion that alerted the authorities. As Haye left the venue and packed his bags en route to the airport, police arrived and interviewed Chisora. They intercepted him at the airport the following morning and detained him for seven hours before allowing him to return to London last night.
Haye issued a statement yesterday afternoon promising to co-operate with the board, even though he does not hold a current licence. He went on to blame Chisora for inciting the confrontation. “Chisora climbed down from the top table,” he said, “removed his robe and then walked towards me, entourage in tow, in an aggressive manner. I held my ground but, unfortunately, he caused a serious disturbance to occur.
“I realise I am no angel and I don’t mind a bit of professional trash-talk to help raise boxing’s profile, but, during my 21 years in the sport, I have never been involved in, or even witnessed, such a serious fracas. If requested, I shall happily assist the boxing authorities with any investigation and, ultimately, hope that all lessons learned from this incident will be implemented.”
Chisora was more repentant.
“I feel I must wholeheartedly apologise for my part in the regrettable scenes both before and after what was to be the biggest night of my career,” he said in a prepared statement. These were the first signs of recognition by either fighter of how serious their joint predicament has become.
Guardian Service
