sport

Haye could face Chisora in ring

David Haye and Dereck Chisora are set to settle their differences in the ring rather than out of it, according to reports.

The British heavyweights notoriously traded blows in Munich in February, when they violently clashed at a press conference following Chisora's loss to Vitali Klitschko.

The fall-out was a messy one, with Chisora having his license rescinded by the British Boxing Board of Control while Haye, who is technically retired, was largely unrepentant.

Their respective careers appeared to be over, especially with the Klitschko brothers seeming to have little interest in either of them and no license to box with.

But quotes attributed to Chisora's promoter, Frank Warren, tonight suggest that a summer meeting could be on the cards.

"It's a natural fight, it doesn't matter what anyone says," Warren reportedly said in quotes carried by a number of websites.

"It's a bigger fight than either of them fighting Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko.

"There's a lot for them to fight about - in a proper environment.

"I do see the fight happening. It's the proper forum for them to settle their differences."

The prospect of a showdown has also gained momentum after Warren extended an invitation to the media to attend a press conference at West Ham's Upton Park ground next Tuesday.

It is thought he will confirm Kevin Mitchell and Ricky Burns as his next big promotion, although it now seems there could be another domestic bout to announce.

Chisora himself has revealed his desire to return to the ring, with his appeal against his suspension set to be heard on May 14.

And, in an interview with ITV London today, the 28-year-old refused to rule out meeting former WBA champion Haye.

"I'm not banned - I'm not fit enough to hold a licence. Banned means you've been banned. But when you're not fit enough that means you're not fit," he said.

"I'm a boxer, I'm a fighter. I love fighting. Someone takes something you love, how are you gonna survive and progress in your life? I wanna fight again."

When asked if he wanted to fight Haye in particular, he said: "I want to fight everybody."

Although they had no obvious rivalry, relations between the pair turned sour when Haye walked into the post-fight press conference following Chisora's gallant points defeat to Vitali Klitschko.

Initially there to lure the Ukrainian into fighting him, Haye soon became embroiled in a heated argument with Chisora, with the Zimbabwe-born fighter taunting him about his defeat to Vitali's brother Wladimir last year.

Punches were then thrown and a tripod was wielded in scenes that shocked the boxing world.

Spokesmen for both fighters were unavailable for comment when contacted.

Update:

Hello, regular commenting on Orange News and Sport pages closes on Thursday 30 May 2013. We will continue to provide a commenting facility on major news and sport events on orangeworld.co.uk. Contact us via http://oran.ge/OWfeedback if you have any further questions. Thanks.

what do you think?

12 comments

Ron Cheetham

8:21am on 5/5/2012

well im sure we all (sic ) want to see that sporstsmanly scrap

Score: 2

Jim England

8:23am on 5/5/2012

What a surpise, never saw this coming! Yawn.

Score: 4

aa aa

9:40am on 5/5/2012

Chisora and Haye. Wow , how exciting. Not exactly Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler, is it. Boxing is so lame today.

Score: 2

Bob Attoe

10:09am on 5/5/2012

thought haye retired from boxing

Score: 1
1 reply

kyle rambo

7:06pm on 5/5/2012

He's done a paul scholes come back!

Charles Ashwell

10:13am on 5/5/2012

Might have guessed these two would end up making a fortune out of bringing shame on the sport of boxing, money rules, what a sad shallow moral vacuum the world of boxing (and most `sport`) has become.

Score: 2
1 reply

chuffy1966

1:21pm on 5/5/2012

Boxing's a corrupt "sport" - always has been, always will be.

Score: 1

Baker101

11:41am on 5/5/2012

Well one is banned and should never be allowed to fight again, the other is retired and should never be given a boxing license again. Both are rubbish anyway. Of course they don't have to settle it on a public stage, they could always have a tussle in some backstreet boxing gym if they really want to. Oh I forgot, they wouldn't get paid for that!

Score: 2

Martin Luxon

12:53pm on 5/5/2012

Bit of silly publicity really as one may yet get banned on May 14th? But of course he won't because the Boxing Board of Control can smell the money.

Score: 1

HARLEY1974

1:30pm on 5/5/2012

My opinion..and I've been a boxing fan for years....Chisora still sounds like he has anger issues.Boxing is a sport and it should'nt be used to wage a personal vendetta on your opponent.Although this match would be a good watch,I don't think it's a good idea.There's nothing wrong with coming out of retirement,but I think there's something very wrong when someone "not fit to fight" wants to fight everybody.He has nothing left to prove but that he's a thug.Not a good role model/advocate for the world of boxing.

Roger Siviter

2:04pm on 5/5/2012

This pair are nought but disgraced thugs and should never be allowed to box again. As for Frank Warren, this reprobate would put his granny in the ring if it meant money, why oh why can we not clean up this odious filth and ban mafia type promoters like Warren permanently?

Score: 1

Paul Walsh

7:40pm on 5/5/2012

When you ban Warren and all his hangerons then you might see a cleaner sport, until then dont hold your breath!

A B

10:56pm on 5/5/2012

Probably the three worst things about British boxing are Chisora, Haye and Warren. As if it isn't bad enough we have to put up with Fury and his boxing booth opponents we now have the prospect of a Haye v Chisora scuffle reinforcing how low British heavyweight boxing has dropped. The sport is better off without them.

Rik Gooner Mason

10:27am on 6/5/2012

Money spinner! An to be fare chisora would get knocked out