If British heavyweight boxers put as much energy into fighting in the ring as they do outside of it perhaps one of them would be a world champion. After being outclassed by 40-year-old WBC Heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitschko by unanimous decision in Munich, Germany on Feb. 18, Britain’s Dereck Chisora and fellow countryman David Haye started a brawl in the post-fight press conference, resulting in death threats and a few bleeding faces.
The 28-year-old Chisora, who was born in Zimbabwe, had already lost the respect of many boxing fans by slapping Klitschko at the weigh in and spitting water in the face of his opponent’s brother Wladimir Klitschko during the fight introductions in the ring. He was fined $50,000 for the slap and then punished by Klitschko during the fight and lost by scores of 119-111, 118-110, and 118-110. Klitschko even fought with a partially-torn left shoulder ligament which was confirmed by doctors after the bout.
Soon after, Chisora was interrupted by Haye in the press conference after Klitschko’s manager Bernd Boente said Chisora at least challenged Klitschko in the ring and showed heart, unlike Haye. This was in reference to last year’s bout where Haye lost his WBA heavyweight title to IBO champion Wladimir Klitschko in July and barely threw a punch over the 12 rounds.
Chisora and Haye then jawed at each other and Chisora left the conference table and approached Haye, resulting in the melee. Chisora claimed Haye hit him with a glass bottle and then angrily threatened several times to shoot him. Adam Booth, Haye’s manager was bleeding from a head wound, and claimed Chisora had hit him with a glass.
Chisora and his trainer Don Charles were stopped at Munich airport when trying to leave for London and taken to police headquarters in Munich, where they were questioned for seven hours. Haye had already fled the country by this time and was back in England. Frank Warren, Chisora’s promoter, said the incident was horrible, disgraceful, an embarrassment, and ugly and the two boxers were total idiots, but claimed Chisora didn’t throw the first punch. However, Dr. Thomas Putz, who is the Federation of German Professional Boxers’ president, said Haye acted in self-defence since Chisora attacked him.
German prosecutors said Chisora and Haye could both end up in prison since Haye is accused of grievous bodily harm, which could result in up to 10 years and Chisora could face up to five years in jail if found guilty of malicious injury. Both British boxers issued statements of apology through the press on Feb. 20, but this might not be enough to keep them out of jail or save their boxing careers.
Robert Smith of the British Boxing Board of Control said Chisora and Haye could both be banned for life from boxing in Britain. He admitted that Haye isn’t a licensed boxer at the moment since he retired after losing to Klitschko last year, but the board could just deny him a boxing license for the rest of his life if it chose to. Chisora is scheduled to meet with the board on March 14 to explain his actions.
Klitschko upped his record to 44-2 with 40 KOs with the win, while Chisora’s fell to 15-3 with nine 9 KOs. It was Chisora’s third loss in his last four bouts and one has to wonder how he earned the title shot against Klitschko in the first place.