So the biggest boxing story this side of the Atlantic is that former 2-weight "World Champion" David Haye (I have always refused to accept his illegitimate WBA Heavyweight title reign) will be facing former world title challenger Dereck Chisora on a card licensed by the Federation Luxembourgeoise De Boxe. The card, dubbed "License to Thrill" may well excite some of the casual fans who two well known names, though sadly, from my point of view it's a disgusting cash grab by 3 men who have shame this sport numerous times over the years.
Firstly you have the public face of the bout and Chisora's "manager" Frank Warren. Warren has been described as a human fish and has seen many professional relationships fall apart including relationships with former IBF Light Welterweight champion Terry Marsh (who was tried for an assassination attempt on Mr Warren) and former 2-weight world champions Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe. In fact in recent months alone we've seen former Olympic Gold Medal winner James DeGale and current Light Heavyweight contender Tony Bellew having soured relations with Mr Warren.
Whilst Warren won't technically be the promoter of the bout he appears to be the man at the fore front of the bout. He's the man who owns a major stake in the TV channel that will be showing the bout (Box Nation) and he's also the man who appears to be doing the promotional work for the bout, including the announcement and the press conference for the bout earlier this week.
In recent months there have been a lot of rumours about Warren being unable to pay fighters (or at very least unable to pay in a reasonable time frame) and he has in the past declared a company bankrupt when Joe Calzaghe sued him. Yet he has managed to maintain a BBBofC (British Boxing Board of Control) license much to the disgust of many in the sport.
Second you have Dereck "Del Boy" Chisora, a fighter who courts controversy like no other in Britain. Chisora has bitten opponents (Paul Butlin), kissed opponents at a weigh in (Carl Baker), slapped an opponent at a weigh in (Vitali Klitschko), spat an opponents second (Wladimir Klitschko) and came in hugely over-weight for one of the biggest fights of his career (against Tyson Fury). Chisora has also been found guilty of crimes and is a man who really needs to be "taught" a lesson by serving a lengthy ban, not by effectively being out of the ring for 6 months, the general time a fighter at this level is out of the ring.
Thirdly you have David Haye a man who bored the pants off fans by throwing only a handful of punches over 12 rounds against Nikolai Valuev then followed that performance up with 2 rounds of nothing against Audley Harrison who was visibly crapping his pants and then again bored us senseless with his bout against Wladimir Klitschko before complaining about a sore toe.
As well as Haye's embarrassing "sore toe" he's also embarrassed himself with his mouth, claiming he was "the saviour of the heavyweight division" (amongst others), with his shirts (the infamous one of him holding the Klitschko brothers severed heads) and of course his actions which included throwing a tripod at Chisora earlier this year.
Sadly whilst the media may be going crazy over this bout it's nothing more than a farce that may end up making boxing a bigger joke than it already is. The introduction of the Federation Luxembourgeoise De Boxe into Britain could well lead to a second "British title" which means we could end up effectively having a very messy British title scene (much like the current world title scene with the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF titles). If we end up with multiple British titles and a split in professional British boxing, on your head be it Mr Warren, Mr Chisora and Mr Haye, it's an obvious cash grab by the 3 of you and you should all be ashamed.
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