Getty Images - Bongarts/Getty Images
David Haye (seen here just before his brawl with Dereck Chisora) says he's happy to assist in any BBBofC investigations. (Photo by Dmitry Abramov/Bongarts/Getty Images)
David Haye has made an official statement on his Saturday brawl with Dereck Chisora in Munich on his web site, Hayemaker.com. You can read the full statement there, but let's discuss a few key points here.
For those wondering why Haye was even at the press conference, as I said before, it's been a bit overlooked that he was a media member on Saturday, working for BoxNation as a commentator. He says he was accredited to be at the press conference. Now, the next question would be whether or not he should have been in the room trying to make his presence so boldly known, calling out the fighters, etc., and frankly, no, he should not have used his accreditation for that purpose, but he says he didn't go in there with that purpose, either:
"It wasn't until Bernd Boente said my name and involved me in the press conference that I commented. I was then happy to banter back and forth with Boente and Klitschko, keen to ascertain whether he (Vitali) would stay true to his word and reiterate his desire to do what his younger brother couldn't do - knock me out. I felt as though the public would want to hear more information about this potential bout and that we could both start beating the drum ahead of a showdown later this year."
[ Chisora vs Haye Brawl - Video ]
Whether or not you feel that the public has as much interest in Vitali vs Haye as Haye thinks they do isn't really the question, I guess -- if he felt as though he was being called out, then of course he was going to respond while in the room.

Haye says Chisora started the fight, coming down toward him in an aggressive manner, to which Haye "stood his ground." Haye notes that there were two rounds of action, between which the parties had separated, and that after Chisora threatened him, came at him, and everything went off as it did, Haye left the room as soon as Chisora started making threats about shooting him. He also says he and his team left Munich earlier than anticipated because the two camps were staying in the same hotel, and he felt that was in his best interests:
"I decided to leave the venue and return to my hotel, a move which I hoped would diffuse the situation. However, Chisora's team were staying at the same hotel as me and, in light of the threats Chisora had made in front of the world's media, it seemed far more appropriate for me and Adam to leave the hotel as quickly as possible.
"Consequently, I left Munich on an earlier flight on Sunday morning and have been thinking about what happened ever since, as well as replaying the incident many times via YouTube. It goes without saying, I am bitterly disappointed to have been a part of what transpired on Saturday evening."
[ Thomas Hill: Embarrassment to British Boxing ]
Here's how he ends it:
"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. If requested, I shall happily assist the boxing authorities with any investigation they wish to launch and, ultimately, hope that all lessons learned from this incident will be implemented.
"I also hope Dereck Chisora is able to learn from his mistakes this past weekend, right the wrongs and then go on to fulfil his potential in the boxing ring."
I'm not certain he realizes he's going to be in hot water, too, but he'll find out soon enough how the BBBofC is going to judge his role in all of this, and I doubt they're going to look too kindly upon him.
0 recs | 24 comments
Well at least he’s expressing some level of remorse
OmarLittle - February 20, 2012
Let’s not forget that he has had a few days to explain the whole thing to himself, as well as compose a carefully worded statement. I would do the same, in his position.
I think both of them had opportunities to turn the course of events in another direction.
DrRck - February 20, 2012
This is true
OmarLittle - February 20, 2012
Can we just put one issue to bed here
Haye DID glass Chisora. The photo in this blog clearly shows him holding a bottle of Sol, and the photos on the BBC website, and other places, show the bottle smashing on Chisora’s shoulder. I’m not trying to defend Chisora in all of this (they’ve clearly both disgraced British boxing) but a lot of journalists in the UK have tried to say that Chisora made it up, which he clearly didn’t.
Randomperson - February 20, 2012
The pictures i saw show liquid spraying, not glass smashing.
I know Haye had the bottle in his hand but from the pictures i saw he had his hand wrapped around the bottle.
He was really putting himself at risk as much as Chisora because the bottle could have broken and cut his hand.
You say it did break/smash though.
Can you show me a picture of this where you can actually see glass and not liquid, because i can’t find any on the BBC website?
Matt Mosley - February 20, 2012
i don’t know i think he tried to glass chisora, but he missed chisora’s head, it’s difficult to see if the bottle crashed or just spraying, but for me the intention is very clear, i think he has no excuse, i hate chisora, but that was a very danger move of haye….
EL CIERTO (VEN) - February 20, 2012
If he did intend to glass him he has gone down even further in my estimation.
Glassing someone has always been seen as a cowardly, lowlife, destestable act in the UK, and i suspect in most other places in the world.
It’s extremely dangerous and could blind somoneone or scar them for life.
I was really quite surprised that Haye has been accused of this, or in fact did this, because it is usually the act of some weakling who is not man enough to fight with his fists.
Matt Mosley - February 20, 2012
yes, it’s very shocking, but you also can see haye throwing a tripod of a camera, that impacts on his own trainer’s head, so that was another low and danger move… i think he wanted to make the first move, cause when chisora came down to face him, he knew that chisora was out of control the whole weekend and probably (for sure) dereck was going to hit him… so he did it…
EL CIERTO (VEN) - February 20, 2012
If you look at the video on the bbc
As Haye throws his punch you can hear glass smash. Look at it from the side angle and you see the bottle in his hand too
Sweet science - February 20, 2012
Well, who did what, to whom, and with what is now going to be investigated. So, yes, we can wait and see what happens with the official proceedings.
DrRck - February 20, 2012
Haye did NOT glass Chisora.
He hit him, whilst holding a bottle, a subtle difference, but a huge one – to glass some one is to hit them WITH the bottle (see here
[http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01456/brawl_1456320a.jpg]).
bazzlad - February 20, 2012
As pathetic as I find this entire fucking debacle, this photo does make me laugh. I can’t lie.
Scott Christ - February 20, 2012
David Haye is a friggin' retard.
Chisora may be a knucklehead but what people forget is that this whole damn shit-storm wouldn’t have occurred had Haye not been at the Press Conference. I mean why he was allowed to be there, I don’t know….He’s not a reporter…..and he’s not a fighter(retired).
BrockRocks - February 20, 2012
He was fully accredited media. He worked for BoxNation on Saturday. That’s pretty much the first thing mentioned up there. Haye probably should have shut up and acted like media (whether he was “called out” or not), but then he is David Haye.
Also don’t use the word “retard” as an insult again. You can call him an idiot or something if you like, though. That’ll float.
Scott Christ - February 20, 2012
my bad. Haye is a friggin' IDIOT! MORON!! JERK!!
Do those fly? ;)
BrockRocks - February 20, 2012
And BTW, didn't realize he actually IS a media guy which speaks for the level of standards that BoxNation has, apparently....
….and those standards aren’t very high if they have employees like him disrupting Pressers when they should be there simply covering the story….
BrockRocks - February 20, 2012
yeah those are good
Scott Christ - February 20, 2012
Seems to me he pretty fundamentally abused those priveleges. Seems to me that if you’re fully accredited media working for BoxNation, or ESPN, Showtime or HBO whatever, that you’re representing them. That’s a real abuse of that stature imo, they must be wild. Can you picture Antonio Tarver pulling that BS using the same credentials, or any other fighter who calls color in living or even historical memory?
BoxAnne - February 20, 2012
the key things to remember is haye struck first, say what u will about chisora and his actions at the weekend as detestable as they were he only walked over to haye who had realistically no business to be there other than to antogonise and i believe chisora said i brought haye a microphone he brought me a bottle or something like that. neither are in the right but for some reason haye seems to be taking some kind of moral high ground when he in essence started the brawl both verbally and physically
sparky_mufc - February 20, 2012
Yeah I know. It looked to me like David Haye was seeking ATTENTION....
…if he wants attention, he should come out of retirement and fight again. He’ll get plenty of that and then some…
BrockRocks - February 20, 2012
exactly, if the heavyweight division is a breeze of fat out of shape wannabees, why not prove it? take on adamek, arreolla and chisora instead of thinking that you have actually got yourself into some sort of elevated status that only exists in your mind. even booth doesnt believe hayes hype and im no fan of booth but you can tell he knows haye will never get close to either klitschko and told him long ago it was smart to retire but like anyone will accept another payday
sparky_mufc - February 22, 2012
This generation of heavyweights are a joke
Dcend58 - February 20, 2012 via mobile
Well, at least he stayed
true
to who he is and fled the hotel/city/country.
Don From Prov - February 21, 2012
Haha!!
Phill - February 21, 2012
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