Inside Lines: Haye poised as Klitschko calls off Chisora again

Alan Hubbard
Sunday 06 March 2011 01:00 GMT
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David Haye is finally set to meet Wladimir Klitschko in Germany on 2 July after the Ukrainian called off his heavyweight title fight against Londoner Dereck Chisora last night for the second time.

The IBF, IBO and WBO world heavyweight champion claimed an abdominal injury which caused the postponement of the bout on 11 December has not fully healed – though when I met him at the Laureus Awards last month he looked fighting fit and said he was in full training. He and Chisora were due to fight in Mannheim on 30 April but his doctor now says this would be "too much of a high risk".

So it looks certain that negotiations will now be conveniently concluded for Klitschko and the WBA champion Haye to meet. Chisora, who was to have received a £200,000 purse, will be compensated.

King's abdication saves ban

Will the decision of Paul King to quit as the Amateur Boxing Association of England's chief executive appease those who forced the ABAE president, Richard Caborn, to order inquiries following allegations of financial mismanagement and a cover-up over a drug-taking incident, as revealed in this column?

Indications are that the Liverpudlian, who has been in the post since 2005 but has withdrawn his application for re-appointment, will be a handy fall guy. But the main reason he is stepping down is to save the embarrassment of English boxers being barred from the qualifying rounds of the Olympic tournament because of the possible suspension of ABAE, a sanction threatened by international governing body AIBA after King's unsuccessful attempt to unseat president Dr C K Wu, from which Caborn last week distanced the ABAE.

King's knowledge, drive and wheeler-dealing will be a big loss but his maverick challenge to the Taiwan billionaire without the ABAE's approval was rather like the chief executive of the FA trying to remove Sepp Blatter on his own initiative. Paul King needed to be Don King to achieve that.

Doctors' appointment

The 125th final of the London University Hospitals' Cup takes place at Richmond Athletic Club on Friday.

The world's oldest rugby competition, first played in 1867, pre-dates the RFU. This year they are raising funds for Help4Heroes. Holders Imperial Medics, winners of 11 of the past 13 finals, take on St George's – victims of hospital passes will receive prompt attention, with numerous doctors in the house. Dr John Maynard, an anaesthetist, is in charge.

Irate Iranians

It seems Iran is hellbent on finding an excuse to boycott the London Olympics. The International Olympic Committee kicked into touch the allegation that the psychedelic London logo spells out the word "Zion".

Just as well John Galliano didn't have a hand in the design, then.

insidelines@independent.co.uk

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