When the David Haye vs Dereck Chisora fight was announced, it was met with mixed opinions. Some felt the fight shouldn’t take place given it could be perceived as glorifying the brawl both fighters had following Chisora’s fight against Vitali Klitschko. Similarly, many felt the fight was simply capitalising on the hype from the fracas rather than it being a legitimately good fight. However, putting that aside, Haye vs Chisora actually has the makings of a decent fight.
The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) is strongly opposed to the fight taking place. Following Chisora’s behaviour in the build up to and after his fight with Vitali Klitschko, the BBBoC indefinitely suspended his boxing licence. Chisora was seemingly left in boxing wilderness – until Frank Warren came up with the idea of a fight against Haye.
I have no doubt Warren was already scheming to make this fight before he even returned to London after Chisora’s fight against Vitali Klitschko. Furthermore, I doubt Haye took much convincing to come out of “retirement” once he too realised how much money could be made by the fight.
Correctly sensing the interest and money that could be generated by a fight between Haye and Chisora, Warren decided to circumvent the BBBoC’s suspension of Chisora. Consequently, both fighters are licensed by the Luxemburg Boxing Federation for this bout, despite it taking place at Upton Park in London.
Under European Union freedom of trade laws, there isn’t anything illegal about the fight nonetheless taking place on British soil. Despite Warren having clearly considered the ramifications of such a step, he isn’t promoting the fight – presumably mitigating the risk to his own licence as a promoter. Instead, it is being promoted by BoxNation, the boxing channel which he part owns.
It’s fair to say the BBBoC were and still are livid about the fight taking place, threatening to revoke the license of anyone taking. However, the BBBoC’s failure was their action against Chisora. Had the BBBoC stated how long Chisora’s suspension would be, any attempt to circumvent this would indeed have undermined the Board. Yet in failing to take a clear stance, the BBBoC has become a victim of its own indecisiveness. While the BBBoC may pontificate about the lack of ethics behind the fight, the fact that they will not receive a sanctioning fee for this fight has arguably contributed to their vitriol.
I acknowledge the argument that the scenes at the post-fight press conference in Munich were bad for boxing and particularly bad for British boxing. In a previous post, I discussed the undue negativity it would bring to the sport (and I also suggested this fight could happen). But boxing is a professional sport and promoters and fighters are going seek the fights that generate PPV buys and ticket sales. That doesn’t mean ethics and morality should go out the window. However, the fact is it becomes secondary to the money that can be generated.
Personally I think the fight should happen. The events in Munich were lamentable for boxing but they nonetheless happened. Ignoring them by not making this fight would not make any difference. Had the BBBoC been clear in its suspension of Chisora, my stance would have been different and I would have supported the argument that the fight would have undermined the Board. Yet in this instance, the BBBoC unwittingly encouraged the approach of Warren, Chisora et al and they will hopefully have learned from such a poor ruling. The BBBoC might be bitter but it is a result of their doing. Furthermore, the BBBoC’s threat of sanctions against anyone involved in the fight is seemingly futile. By the Board’s own admission, the fight is legal and they are powerless to do anything about it going ahead.
The fight has also come under criticism for being a gimmick, merely using the hype of the post fight press conference to generate interest. It has undeniably captured attention with press conferences separating the fighters with metal fences and heavy security to accentuate the animosity between them. Although for many boxing fans, it has the potential to be a decent fight and makes commercial and sporting sense.
When Haye announced his “retirement”, with a fight with either Klitschko brother being an exception to his decision, no one really believed him. Haye’s performance and defeat to Wladimir Klitschko was certainly lacklustre and he needs an impressive win to redeem himself before attempting to generate interest in a possible fight with Vitali (a fight with the elder Klitschko brother has been rumoured despite Bernd Boente, the Klitschkos’ manager, seemingly doing everything he can to avoid it). Beyond beginning to sell a possible fight against Vitali, Haye would also need at least one fight to address any ring rust and a fight with Chisora therefore makes sense.
I have a lot of time for Haye. Despite the Heavyweight division being so uninspiring, Haye cannot be judged on the basis of his opponents in the division. He is arguably one of the most explosive punchers pound-for-pound and has retained his speed as a cruiserweight. Despite his poor performance against Wladimir Klitschko, he also showed he has a chin, contrary to the claims of a lot of his critics. Notwithstanding the competition within the division, I still consider him to be one of the best current Heavyweight fighters.
Like others, I thought Chisora was a domestic/European fighter at best prior to his fight with Vitali. Yet Chisora showed heart, moxy and a great chin, not once being overwhelmed by the event or his opponent. The Vitali that Chisora fought was admittedly an aging and slowed down version of the fighter he used to be. Yet Chisora took several big shots from Vitali, continuing to come forward for all 12 rounds.
While both Klitschko brothers are accustomed to fighting opponents that turn up for the purse and expect to get stopped, Chisora came to fight. Indeed, it’s a shame that his performance was overshadowed by events outside of the ring. But take those attributes and you have a boxer that comes to fight and he’ll be prepared to go toe-to-toe (no pun intended) with Haye when they meet in the ring. Like Haye, Chisora too is seeking to redeem himself having lost three of his last four fights – that’s not including his first ‘fight’ with Haye in Munich.
Haye vs Chisora is speed and explosiveness vs durability and pressure. Add the needle between both fighters and the hype, and you have the ingredients for a good match-up. Of course, in boxing, some fights don’t live up to their potential. But the potential is certainly there for anyone who thinks it’s little more than a publicity stunt.
I expect Haye to win by stoppage, eventually having too much power and speed for even Chisora’s chin. Chisora will come forward and is likely to try and neutralise Haye’s speed with pressure. Although he’s not faced an opponent with Haye’s speed and I doubt any of his sparring partners have been able to replicate that. Chisora’s durability could avoid an early stoppage but eventually I expect Haye to find an opening in Chisora’s defence and brutally exploit it.
Hopefully both fighters can behave themselves in the build up to and during the fight. If they can deliver a good fight, perhaps it will be a step in improving the reputation of British boxing following the last time they fought outside of the ring.
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I have no doubt Warren was already scheming to make this fight before he even returned to London after Chisora’s fight against Vitali Klitschko. Furthermore, I doubt Haye took much convincing to come out of “retirement” once he too realised how much money could be made by the fight.
Correctly sensing the interest and money that could be generated by a fight between Haye and Chisora, Warren decided to circumvent the BBBoC’s suspension of Chisora. Consequently, both fighters are licensed by the Luxemburg Boxing Federation for this bout, despite it taking place at Upton Park in London.
Under European Union freedom of trade laws, there isn’t anything illegal about the fight nonetheless taking place on British soil. Despite Warren having clearly considered the ramifications of such a step, he isn’t promoting the fight – presumably mitigating the risk to his own licence as a promoter. Instead, it is being promoted by BoxNation, the boxing channel which he part owns.
It’s fair to say the BBBoC were and still are livid about the fight taking place, threatening to revoke the license of anyone taking. However, the BBBoC’s failure was their action against Chisora. Had the BBBoC stated how long Chisora’s suspension would be, any attempt to circumvent this would indeed have undermined the Board. Yet in failing to take a clear stance, the BBBoC has become a victim of its own indecisiveness. While the BBBoC may pontificate about the lack of ethics behind the fight, the fact that they will not receive a sanctioning fee for this fight has arguably contributed to their vitriol.
I acknowledge the argument that the scenes at the post-fight press conference in Munich were bad for boxing and particularly bad for British boxing. In a previous post, I discussed the undue negativity it would bring to the sport (and I also suggested this fight could happen). But boxing is a professional sport and promoters and fighters are going seek the fights that generate PPV buys and ticket sales. That doesn’t mean ethics and morality should go out the window. However, the fact is it becomes secondary to the money that can be generated.
Personally I think the fight should happen. The events in Munich were lamentable for boxing but they nonetheless happened. Ignoring them by not making this fight would not make any difference. Had the BBBoC been clear in its suspension of Chisora, my stance would have been different and I would have supported the argument that the fight would have undermined the Board. Yet in this instance, the BBBoC unwittingly encouraged the approach of Warren, Chisora et al and they will hopefully have learned from such a poor ruling. The BBBoC might be bitter but it is a result of their doing. Furthermore, the BBBoC’s threat of sanctions against anyone involved in the fight is seemingly futile. By the Board’s own admission, the fight is legal and they are powerless to do anything about it going ahead.
The fight has also come under criticism for being a gimmick, merely using the hype of the post fight press conference to generate interest. It has undeniably captured attention with press conferences separating the fighters with metal fences and heavy security to accentuate the animosity between them. Although for many boxing fans, it has the potential to be a decent fight and makes commercial and sporting sense.
When Haye announced his “retirement”, with a fight with either Klitschko brother being an exception to his decision, no one really believed him. Haye’s performance and defeat to Wladimir Klitschko was certainly lacklustre and he needs an impressive win to redeem himself before attempting to generate interest in a possible fight with Vitali (a fight with the elder Klitschko brother has been rumoured despite Bernd Boente, the Klitschkos’ manager, seemingly doing everything he can to avoid it). Beyond beginning to sell a possible fight against Vitali, Haye would also need at least one fight to address any ring rust and a fight with Chisora therefore makes sense.
I have a lot of time for Haye. Despite the Heavyweight division being so uninspiring, Haye cannot be judged on the basis of his opponents in the division. He is arguably one of the most explosive punchers pound-for-pound and has retained his speed as a cruiserweight. Despite his poor performance against Wladimir Klitschko, he also showed he has a chin, contrary to the claims of a lot of his critics. Notwithstanding the competition within the division, I still consider him to be one of the best current Heavyweight fighters.
Like others, I thought Chisora was a domestic/European fighter at best prior to his fight with Vitali. Yet Chisora showed heart, moxy and a great chin, not once being overwhelmed by the event or his opponent. The Vitali that Chisora fought was admittedly an aging and slowed down version of the fighter he used to be. Yet Chisora took several big shots from Vitali, continuing to come forward for all 12 rounds.
While both Klitschko brothers are accustomed to fighting opponents that turn up for the purse and expect to get stopped, Chisora came to fight. Indeed, it’s a shame that his performance was overshadowed by events outside of the ring. But take those attributes and you have a boxer that comes to fight and he’ll be prepared to go toe-to-toe (no pun intended) with Haye when they meet in the ring. Like Haye, Chisora too is seeking to redeem himself having lost three of his last four fights – that’s not including his first ‘fight’ with Haye in Munich.
Haye vs Chisora is speed and explosiveness vs durability and pressure. Add the needle between both fighters and the hype, and you have the ingredients for a good match-up. Of course, in boxing, some fights don’t live up to their potential. But the potential is certainly there for anyone who thinks it’s little more than a publicity stunt.
I expect Haye to win by stoppage, eventually having too much power and speed for even Chisora’s chin. Chisora will come forward and is likely to try and neutralise Haye’s speed with pressure. Although he’s not faced an opponent with Haye’s speed and I doubt any of his sparring partners have been able to replicate that. Chisora’s durability could avoid an early stoppage but eventually I expect Haye to find an opening in Chisora’s defence and brutally exploit it.
Hopefully both fighters can behave themselves in the build up to and during the fight. If they can deliver a good fight, perhaps it will be a step in improving the reputation of British boxing following the last time they fought outside of the ring.
