Bad Left Hook

Dereck Chisora has released a statement apologizing for his actions this past weekend, from the slap of Vitali Klitschko on Friday to the spitting in the face of Wladimir Klitschko to his immediately infamous press conference battle with David Haye.

It's a step toward getting his name as cleaned up as it can be ahead of a now-set March 14 date in front of the British Boxing Board of Control.

Here's what Chisora said (or what the writer of the statement said on his behalf, whichever) about his behavior:

Following the extensive media coverage that my WBC World Heavyweight title challenge against Vitali Klitschko in Munich at the weekend has attracted, I feel I must wholeheartedly apologise for my part in the regretable scenes both before and after what was to be the biggest night of my career.

Whilst my behaviour was inexcusable, there were many things that went on behind the scenes that ultimately caused my frustrations to boil over, however this is of course no excuse. I cannot go into the specific details at the moment as quite rightly the British Boxing Board of Control will be investigating this matter and also the altercation that took place between David Haye and myself where I was struck by a bottle.

Despite all of this, the bottom line is, I have let my family, my team and worst of all the sport I love down. I acknowledge that my actions were totally unprofessional, with or without provocation. Now, with a cool head and the benefit of hindsight, my actions at the weekend were regrettable to say the least and I am deeply embarrassed at the scenes reported in the media.

I acknowledge that I have a duty as a professional boxer to conduct myself properly at all times, especially with boxing being a sport of controlled aggression. I have let lots of people down on Saturday night, including myself, and for that I am truly sorry.

In Munich I fully cooperated with the German authorities and as a result I was released without charge.

I will be making no further comment at this stage and will wait for any formal hearing to take place.

[ Related: David Haye's Official Statement ]

That formal hearing is coming in three weeks, and both Chisora and Haye are facing some potentially harsh punishment here for the brawl, and for Chisora, that's not the only issue at hand. His behavior all weekend was deplorable, and it's not his first scrape with the bottom of the barrel, either. The Board may have no choice but to knock him out of the sport for a good while.