The ills of British boxing came to the fore last night as David Haye and Dereck Chisora provided the headlines in Munich in the post-mach press conference of Chisora’s defeat to Vitali Klitschko. Chisora’s efforts were being widely acclaimed having taken the monstrous Ukrainian the distance in their fight; however, he managed to ruin his work in the ring with further pathetic behaviour off it. He was widely mocked and demonised after slapping Klitschko in the pre-fight weigh-in, but after the chaotic scenes that ensued in a packed press conference, that incident now comes across as insignificant. Crazy when you consider what a disrespectful act that it was.
Now I am not a huge follower of boxing, but I fully understand that these days the sport seems to be riddled with taunting and baiting in order to try and gain a psychological edge over your opponent. Yet it was these sorts of provocative comments that led to the aggressive, physical reactions that ensued late on in Munich. Now I understand the sport is all about pride, and holding your own, but there was not any comments made that significantly hampered Haye’s, Chisora’s or Klitschko’s reputation. There certainly were not any that justified the escalating fight, in which punches were thrown, camera tripods picked up, and glasses smashed. It was an embarrassing, shambolic display by two individuals who clearly must have some psychological issues that they need to deal with.
What makes the situation crazier is that the two saw the need to flare up in the middle of a press conference where the world’s media were all based. Everyone captured the scenes and the words that will land Chisora in particular, in some extremely hot water, potentially with the law. They disgraced themselves and with the technological means that are around today and the current rise of social networking, it was not long before the acts were being analysed and rightfully castigated globally. What frustrates me further is that these two men are both British, and were meant to be representing our country abroad. In the past, football has taken on an awful lot of criticism for the antics of some when visiting other countries, now exactly the same treatment should be dished out to these two disgraceful men. It is no wonder that neither of the Klitschko brothers want to fight another British fighter currently, when all they are subject to is such disrespectful behaviour. To me, to maintain your sense of pride, you need to gain and display respect, a trait neither of the scrappers have shown.
For Haye in particular, this event will have damning consequences. Ever since he lost his belts to Vitali’s brother Wladimir, Haye’s stature and respect seems to have waned further and further. In the lead-up to that bout, which eventually led to a brief retirement, Haye acted disrespectfully to his opponent and then after providing a complete no-show in one of the most anticipated fights in recent memory he offered a pathetic excuse of a broken toe. He has recently re-emerged from retirement, desperate to fight one of the Klitschko’s again, something that he is light-years away from achieving now. What he needs to do is shut up and live a life. A few years ago, I reckon many people will have described Haye as a top bloke, a sportsman at the top of his game. Nowadays he would be seen as a thug, who cannot cope with a bit of heckling. It is a sad demise for what was one of Britain’s best boxers of this century.
Chisora is also in a position now that makes you wonder how much longer his career as a boxer will last. Even before this fight he has previously acquired criminal convictions for physical assaults, as well as having a non-too impressive fighting record. Frank Warren must be crazy to try to promote and generate fights for this man, who is clearly a waiting time-bomb ready to explode. Although you could argue last night was that moment. But after having a punch-up with someone, what was Chisora thinking when he repeatedly screamed that he was going to kill and burn Haye?! The saying, “think before you speak” has never rung so true. To be so explicit in such an aggressive manner beggars belief and you have to wonder what good he thought he was gaining out of the whole affair. It is no surprise to hear he was arrested this morning before departing Munich.
I hope the pair of them are hung out to dry by the media, the governing bodies and the law. They deserve every punishment going. They brought shame upon their sport, their associates, as well as themselves. The sport of boxing does not need them. I hope it finally ends Haye’s aspirations to fight again as well, because there is no chance a Klitschko brother will go near him after the lack of respect they have been offered by their last few British opponents. Haye and Chisora need to realise that to be considered a somebody, you definitely do not act like a nobody. Which is precisely what they did. Note I have not spoken once about the bout in this post. It is now a complete side-story and non-event in comparison to the scenes that subsequently followed, and that is what will be pinned against Chisora from now on. The sport has suffered from these events, but not as much as what the effects will have on British boxing. Reputations have been severely tainted now and it is going to require some serious rebuilding of relationships if our fighters are going to be able to gain opportunities in the biggest fights the sport has to offer.
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