By John Wight: I was one of those who felt that the fight between David Haye and Dereck Chisora should not have been allowed to take place. I felt and still feel that the events in Munich were ugly and a disgrace to the sport. For me it wasn’t so much the fact that Dereck Chisora got up from his seat and walked the length of the room to confront David Haye, resulting in the brawl that took place. For me it was more what took place after the brawl, when Chisora threatened to ‘burn’ and to ‘shoot’ Haye.
I am not some middle class twat spouting moral platitudes from on high when I say this. I know what a street fight looks and feels like and have been around the proverbial block. But boxing is a sport of skill and discipline and dedication, with the courage required of the fighters setting them apart from any other athlete in any other sport. Dereck Chisora and David Haye are role models, whether they like it or not, and young kids who go into the gym to get off the street are easily influenced by their behaviour.
I also felt that Frank Warren’s decision to circumvent the BBBoC and set up the fight using a boxing federation outside the UK was wrong. Boxing needs a solid governing body, like any sport does, and the danger of a promoter being able to promote any fight he wishes when he wishes, capitalising on events that have no place in the sport, outweighed in my view the undoubted interest there was in fight when it was announced. I felt at the time that Chisora should have been banned for life as a result of his behaviour both before and after his fight against Vitali Klitschko, even though during the fight itself he put in a brave performance.
However, I have no problem admitting that what took place at Upton Park was an excellent heavyweight contest that went a long way to mitigating all of the aforementioned negatives. Both men came to fight, it was a clean, all action fight, and afterwards the manner in which Haye and Chisora gave one another respect did themselves and the sport great credit.
As for Frank Warren, he took a massive gamble which paid off. It’s a fair bet he had a few sleepless nights in the lead up, worrying if there would be flare up at one of the press conferences to publicise the fight, worrying if Dereck Chisora might lose it in the ring and bite his opponent or do something mental afterwards. All of these possibilities must have preyed on the Warren’s mind as he came under pressure and criticism from various quarters over his decision to take on the BBBoC and plough ahead regardless.
Ultimately, this was a contest that not only captured the imagination of the public, it lived up to the high expectations that were produced. Not since Lewis fought Bruno in Cardiff has a British heavyweight contest generated as much excitement, and not since that fight have two British heavyweights emerged with as much credit for taking the risks they took.
David Haye proved he has the heart to mix it when he has to. Chisora put him under a lot of pressure, forcing Haye to fight at a pace he’s never had to as a heavyweight. This was reflected in the fact he was breathing hard by the end of the third round, clearly surprised by the unrelenting pressure of his opponent, who despite appearing less than chiselled showed again why he is never in a dull fight.
But Chisora, though landing some big shots, again failed to let his hands go enough when he was in range. His come-forward, swarming style is suited to his physical attributes and again worked superbly in getting himself in range. As he did against Vitali, against Haye he needed he failed to let his shots off when he got there.
Whether it’s because he felt the power of both men early on and was reluctant to take the chance of leaving gaps, he and his trainer Don Charles need to correct this weakness. As the man who epitomised this particular style, Joe Frazier, used to – you take what you are given when you get inside and unload.
Overall, while heavyweight boxing in general has suffered through a lack of personalities, genuine talent, and proper fights over the past few years, Britain now finds itself endowed with the best of the bunch in terms of potential and excitement. The likes of Dereck Chisora, Tyson Fury, David Price, and David Haye allow us to believe that the future of the heavyweight division is far from bleak.