Boxing: European exclusion threat for Haye v Chisora fight

 

Paul Hirst
Monday 04 June 2012 22:13 BST
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Frank Warren intends to take legal action against the BBBoC
Frank Warren intends to take legal action against the BBBoC

The organisers of the controversial bout between David Haye and Dereck Chisora are certain that the 14 July grudge match will take place despite a threat to expel the Luxembourg Boxing Federation from the European Boxing Union.

Haye and Chisora, who clashed in an ugly press conference brawl in Germany four months ago, will face each other in a highly controversial bout at Upton Park this summer. As neither fighter holds a British licence, organisers have had to get the fight sanctioned by the LBF – a move that has caused anger in the boxing community.

It was confirmed yesterday that the LBF will be thrown out of the EBU if it does not pull out of sanctioning the fight.

A spokeswoman for the EBU said: "There was a meeting of the general assembly on Saturday. As it stands the LBF are still in the EBU but, if the 14 July fight does go ahead, they will be out. The decision [the assembly came to] was with a great majority."

Despite the EBU's hard-line stance, organisers are certain that the fight will go ahead, and claim that the LBF are still fully committed to the bout.

Last weekend's events are the latest instalment in what has been a controversial build-up to the fight between the two Londoners. The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) threatened to expel all those involved in the fight without a hearing, although it softened its stance over the weekend by claiming anyone charged would be able to answer their case.

Frank Warren, who manages Chisora, said yesterday that he intends to issue legal proceedings against the BBBofC.

The WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko branded the bout a "freak show", but Warren insists the fight is legal and is adamant that Chisora should be allowed to take on Haye, as he has not been able to box since February.

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