Sunday, 19 February 2012

Warren Says Boxing Row Unacceptable


Dereck Chisora's promoter Frank Warren has called his boxer's brawl with fellow Brit David Haye"unacceptable".

The pair clashed at the post-fight news conference in Munich after Chisora was beaten by Vitali Klitschko.

Warren told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek: "It was unacceptable. It is stupid. It does not do anybody's sport any favours - boxing or whatever.

"Either we do it in the ring or outside of the ring. Because I want him. If David don't fight me, Adam, I am telling you the God's honest truth, I am going to physically burn him. So you tell him I said that. I am going to find him"

"It is just ridiculous. It takes away from what was a gallant showing from Dereck in the ring."

Warren, who admitted he did not see the incident clearly until German police showed him video evidence, expects the British Boxing Board of Control to take prompt action.

He added: "They will have their own investigation. It is something we could certainly do without in boxing. It was just awful and I am sure the board will take appropriate action to deal with it.

"I would like to see a proper inquiry with people with cool, calm and collected heads to view the video and make a decision.

"What punishment can they give them? If Dereck Chisora is found guilty of misconduct then they have a process to deal with it."

WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has called for both boxers to be punished following the brawl.

Klitschko, the younger brother of Vitali, had water spat at him by Chisora in the ring just before Saturday night's fight started.

He said: "It is the sport of boxing and we do not need theatre like that.

"It is all about the ring and the fighting in the ring - not outside.

"I am really surprised. This behaviour is really not acceptable. Outside of the ring it has to be punished and [they must] pay the penalty.

"The spitting of water in the ring is not right, we have to respect each other. That is definitely something that these guys are not giving."

British Boxing Board of Control General Secretary Robert Smithwas left angered by the incident.

He said: "I am extremely disappointed and disgusted really.

"It does not do the sport any good or Britain any good. Unfortunately it was like Brits abroad and I am very disappointed.

"You wake up in the morning and someone's just fought for the world heavyweight title and we are talking about something else - that is really disappointing."

Smith hinted that the brawl may hamper any future applications from Haye to have his boxing licence renewed should he decide to come out of retirement.

"We would have to go through the normal process and deal with any outstanding matters which have to be considered," he said.

"First of all we would have to listen to what David Haye has to say but he has not done himself any good and neither has Mr Chisora."

BBC boxing correspondent Mike Costello described the altercation as a "disgrace" that heaped more controversy on the sport after Chisora slapped Klitschko at the pre-fight weigh-in.

He said: "Adam Booth, Haye's trainer, who worked with us on the BBC at the fight, was left with blood streaming down a cut on the centre of his face and, after the slapping incident at Friday's weigh-in, this was a disgrace on a completely different level."