Well, David Haye?s retirement didn?t last too long, did it? The former WBA heavyweight champion hung up his gloves last year after his abysmal performance against Wladimir Klitschko. With no further big-fight prospects other than a fight with Wladimir?s equally formidable brother, Vitali, Haye decided it was time to call it a day. There was talk earlier this year of a Haye-Vitali Klitschko fight coming together, but that?s as far as it got ? talk and nothing else, much like Haye?s fight plan against Wladimir.
Then Dereck Chisora crashed the gate. Chisora, who is like Haye a British heavyweight, took on Vitali Klitschko in February and gave a good account of himself, even though he lost on points by a clear margin. At least Chisora took the fight to his gigantic foe. Other opponents of both Klitschkos have either crumbled quickly or gone into survival mode.
The retired Haye was an interested spectator at the Chisora-Klitschko contest. After the fight, Haye and Chisora engaged in a shouting match that soon escalated into a melee reminiscent of Mike Tyson?s pre-fight dustup with Lennox Lewis. The British Board of Boxing Control slapped Chisora with a suspension. There wasn?t much the BBBoC could do to Haye, who had given up his boxing license last fall.
It didn?t take a crystal ball to predict what was coming. On July 14, Haye and Chisora will settle their differences in the ring at Upton Park in London. At stake is the World Boxing Organization?s newly vacant International heavyweight title.
Back in the late 1880s, John L. Sullivan was considered by most to be the world heavyweight champion. A rival named Jake Kilrain was angling for a fight with Sullivan. As a publicity stunt, Kilrain had a championship belt of his own created. When asked what he thought of Kilrain?s belt, Sullivan said: ?I wouldn?t put it around the neck of a goddamn dog.?
Were he alive today, Sullivan would likely have voiced the same opinion about the WBO International bauble.
Nevertheless, the Haye-Chisora grudge match is the hottest heavyweight ticket in Britain at the moment. Neither fighter is a poster boy for propriety. Haye is disliked because of his braggadocio and penchant for tasteless pranks, such as his infamous T-shirt that depicted beheaded versions of the Klitschko brothers. Chisora played the bad boy even before his rumble with Haye, slapping Vitali?s face in a pre-fight press conference and spitting water at Wladimir.
So, instead of hero-vs.-heel, Haye-Chisora is heel-vs.-heel ? sort of like Darth Vader going up against Doctor Doom. Apparently this clash of villains has its appeal for British fans. According to Boxingscene.com, 20,000 tickets have been sold as of Saturday for a stadium that seats 35,000.
One niggling little concern, though ? neither Chisora nor Haye is currently licensed by the BBBoC. No problem. Both contestants have been licensed by the Luxembourg Boxing Federation, even though the fight is taking place in Britain.
The BBBoC has threatened reprisals against all involved in the July 14 contest. Here?s hoping the fight goes on regardless. If British boxing fans want to pay big bucks ? or pounds ? to watch it, the choice should be theirs.
Charles R. Saunders is the author of several books including Sweat and Soul: The Saga of Black Boxers in the Maritimes from the Halifax Forum to Caesars Palace, as well as the Imaro series of fantasy/adventure novels. Considered by many to be one of the leading authorities on boxing in Canada, he is the current Vice-President of Boxing for the Society of North American Sports Historians and Researchers. His award-winning novel, Damballa, which centers around a fictional heavyweight title bout, is available at Amazon.com.
