Chisora: Scared Haye pulled a knife on me
HEAVYWEIGHT boxer Dereck Chisora stoked the intense nature of his bitter rivalry with David Haye ahead of their 14 July grudge match by claiming the former world champion pulled a knife on him during a recent meeting in London.
Haye and Chisora yesterday confirmed they will fight at Upton Park this summer in a bout controversially authorised by the Luxembourg Boxing Federation, three months after their infamous brawl at a press conference following the latter’s points defeat to WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko.
Haye had attended the Munich event to challenge Klitschko but Chisora, who had slapped the WBC champion at the fight’s weigh-in before spitting water at his younger brother Wladimir, took offence and confronted Haye to spark a violent melee in which Chisora claimed to have been “glassed”.
The British Boxing Board of Control responded to the embarrassing episode by withdrawing Chisora’s boxing licence, at least until the July hearing of his appeal, though Haye could not be punished in the same way as he had officially retired and consequently declined to renew his licence.
Speaking to promote their fight, the two issued threats to each other – Haye promised “a slow, concussive beating” of his opponent – and Chisora alleged Haye felt threatened enough by their previous encounter to reach for a knife during a recent chance meeting.
“I saw David Haye a couple of weeks ago in London,” said Chisora. “And guess what he picked up? He picked up a knife.”
“I was eating a steak,” was Haye’s casual retort, but Chisora insisted that was not the case, adding: “There was nothing on the table! He knows what kind of man I am.”
Promoter Frank Warren, who had previously distanced himself from any interest in making the fight, maintained no rules had been broken. He said: “It is the biggest fight of the year and the fact of the matter is that the fight is legal, lawful, and will go ahead.” He also underlined his belief that Vitali Klitschko could face the winner.