19 Feb 2012

Chisora questioned over post-match brawl

German police say they want to interview British boxer David Haye after a bloody brawl with fellow UK fighter Dereck Chisora.

The two London fighters were filmed coming to blows at a press conference after Chisora lost to Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko in Munich.

Klitschko looked in on bemusement as Chisora and Haye traded insults before coming to blows in front of dozens of press photographers.

Chisora claimed to have been “glassed” while Haye’s manager Adam Booth was left with a nasty cut on his forehead.

At one point, Haye appeared to swing a camera tripod over his head, while Chisora picked up a bottle, but both men were separated by onlookers.

Haye left the scene with Chisora threatening to shoot him. Munich police took Chisora in for questioning on Sunday and say they are looking for Haye.

Chisora failed in his bid to wrest the WBC world heavyweight title from Klitschko after losing a 12-round decision in Munich on Saturday night.

When Haye began shouting from the floor at the post-fight press conference, Chisora mocked him for his poor performance against Klitschko’s brother Wladimir last year and tried to goad his rival into a future bout.

Do you want to tell me to my face? Tell me to my face. Dereck Chisora

Chisora said: “David, you and me can get it on in London. Be quiet.” He went on: “David Haye is an embarrassment. He messed up (Sky Sports) Box Office for all the young fighters and I’m going to give him two slaps for that.

“If David Haye is a fighter he should fight me. Let’s fight, me and you.”

He then repeatedly shouted:”David, how’s your toe?” – referring to the injury on which Haye blamed his loss to Wladimir Klitschko.

Haye retorted: “You’ve had three losses in a row.” Chisora then said: “Do you want to tell me to my face? Tell me to my face.”

Chisora left the stage, approached Haye and went nose-to-nose before the brawl broke out.

Haye eventually left the scene while Booth, with blood running down his face, shouted at Chisora: “Derek, man-to-man, I want to know who glassed me. Someone hit me with a bottle.”

Chisora answered: “Did you see me with a glass?”

Dereck Chisora fighting Vitali Klitschko

A Munich Criminal Police spokesman said Chisora was taken from the city’s airport to police headquarters in Munich for questioning. He was later released without charge.

His trainer Don Charles was also being questioned as part of the official investigation into the post-bout incident.

The spokesman confirmed also that police were still searching for Haye, who was not present at his hotel when they sought to question him this morning.

The spokesman said: “At present we do not know where Mr Haye is. We are currently looking for him. He was not at the hotel this morning and we have not seen him at the airport.”

After watching the drama unfold, Wladimir Klitschko said: “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.”