Clash Between Boxers Haye and Chisora
Two British fighters rocked the boxing world this weekend after a bare-knuckle fight broke out between them during a press conference. After former champion David Haye turned up as Dereck Chisora was being interviewed, tempers quickly flared before violence broke out.
The Ugly Build Up
The whole episode was worthy of an Oscar, and it gets a little complicated, so stay with me. Let's take Chisora first. He was in Germany last week for the biggest fight of his life, against Ukrainian Heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko. Despite being a relatively unknown fighter, Chisora had already made headlines after he slapped Vitali during the weigh in. Controversy continued to follow him after he spat water in the face of Vitali's brother Wladimir Klitschko after entering the ring.
During the fight itself, Chisora actually impressed most people. Despite losing, he lasted the full 12 rounds, rarely looking too troubled by a fighter with vastly more experience and ability than him. However, that fight was soon to become just a footnote for the unplanned brawl that happened just a few hours later during the press conference.
Haye's Involvement
Whilst Chisora and Klitschko were being questioned by the media, former Heavyweight champion David Haye appeared. He was in the stadium on the night working for a television station but turned up at the press conference to argue with Vitali Klitschko's manager. Haye lost a fight to Vitali's brother Wladimir last year and promptly retired from boxing. However, in the last few months he has come out of retirement to try and organise a bout with Vitali.
He was angry with Vitali's manager for supposedly backing out of an agreement they had reached for a fight. However, worried by the fact that the spotlight was being taken away from him, Chisora started to goad Haye. The argument very quickly became heated and Chisora left his seat. As the pair squared up to each other...
"I am Going to Shoot You"
Chisora accused David Haye of glassing him, before threatening several times to kill him:
"He glassed me. I swear to God, David, I am going to shoot you. I am going to shoot you. I am going to physically shoot David Haye. He glassed me. He glassed me. He glassed me. I'm not having it. He glassed me." Chisora to Haye
These threats led to German police intervening and he was detained at Munich airport for questioning. The Klitschkos have also been quick to condemn the actions of Haye, and in particular Chisora, with Wladimir saying:
"I'm totally disappointed, it went a little too far, the sport of boxing shouldn't be like that. Bloody faces in the press conference... fighting in the ring, not out. I'm really surprised."
Today several high profile figures in the sport have been calling for severe punishments for both boxers, including the possibility of life time bans. Whatever the outcome, this story is sure to run and run as the fallout of one of the most shocking moments in recent boxing history develops.