David Haye and Dereck Chisora confront each other before
their brawl. REUTERS/Action Images/Andrew Couldridge
British boxer David Haye is wanted for questioning by
German police over his brawl with fellow British heavyweight
Dereck Chisora following a WBC title clash in Munich on
Saturday, a police spokesman said.
Chisora, beaten by Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko in an unanimous
points decision in their heavyweight title bout in Munich,
has already been questioned and released by police over the
incident in the post-fight news conference.
"Of course we still want to talk to Mr Haye and question him
to find out about his involvement," Munich police spokesman
Wolfgang Wenger said.
"There are of course investigations centred on him and the
prosecutor will decide here how to get hold of him, whether
this will happen in England or here. The judiciary must
decide how to proceed."
The British Boxing Board of Control has ordered Chisora to
appear at a hearing on March 14 to explain his part in the
disgraceful scenes during the post-fight press conference and
before the fight when he slapped Klitschko at the weigh-in.
"Mr Dereck Chisora has been called to appear before the
Stewards of the British Boxing Board of Control on Wednesday,
14th March 2012 under Regulation 25 (misconduct) with regard
to his behaviour prior, during and after his contest for the
World Boxing Council Heavyweight Championship against Vitali
Klitschko," a BBBC statement said.
Chisora issued a statement through promoter Frank Warren on
Monday, apologising for his behaviour.
"I have let my family, my team and worst of all the sport I
love down. I acknowledge that my actions were totally
unprofessional, with or without provocation," Chisora said.
"Now, with a cool head and the benefit of hindsight, my
actions at the weekend were regretable to say the least and I
am deeply embarrassed at the scenes reported in the media."
Haye, the former world heavyweight champion who lost to
Klitschko's brother Vladimir last July, had been attending
the bout and news conference as a television pundit.
He exchanged comments with Klitschko's manager Bernd Boente
and Chisora and situation degenerated when Chisora got up to
confront his fellow Briton and the pair traded blows. Haye's
manager Adam Booth suffered a cut head during the brawl.
The 31-year-old Haye said he fled Germany due to the death
threats he received from Chisora before adding he would
"happily assist the boxing authorities with any investigation
they wish to launch".
"I realise I am no angel - and don't mind a bit of
professional trash-talk to help raise boxing's profile - but,
during my 21 years in the sport, I have never been involved
in, or even witnessed, such a serious fracas," Haye said in a
statement.
"It goes without saying, I am bitterly disappointed to have
been a part of what transpired on Saturday evening."
The BBBC's General Secretary Robert Smith said both Chisora
and Haye, who retired in October, could face life bans.
"It's a possibility," Smith told BBC Radio 5 live. "The board
have many powers. They can fine, they can suspend and they
can withdraw a licence."
During the post-bout fracas Chisora was heard to say he would
"shoot and burn" Haye.
Police spokesman Wenger added: "We need to question Mr Haye
and the others who were involved and then we need to decide
if there will be further questioning. The investigations are
underway and these need time and thoroughness.
"This is also part of the investigations. From what we can
see in the videos, and of course there may also be other
evidence, it seems to be a case of assault, as well as
suspicion of grievous bodily harm because perhaps a bottle or
tripod was also used to hit someone.
"This is grievous bodily harm. A threat would be if an actual
threat was made to the life of another. This still needs to
be clarified."
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