Haye vs Chisora in possible jeopardy following LBF Suspension

02.06.12

By @livefight

The controversial July 14th David Haye vs Derek Chisora heavyweight showdown was dealt a formal blow today by news of the suspension of the Luxembourg Boxing Federation by the European Boxing Union.

The public seem have given the mouthwatering dust-up a big thumbs up, given the ticket sales and interest in the event - but further up the boxing food chain, all hell is breaking loose over the sanctioning of the bout.

The LBF had stepped into the UK to license the event, much to the anger and disappointment of the British boxing press and more importantly, the British Boxing Board of Control.

The fight's health and safety assurances were led by Frank Warren's statement that the LBF followed the same exacting standards as the BBBoC with regards the competitor's welfare and safety - and that the LBF were a member of the European Boxing Union.

But their suspension, following a formal voting procedure at the EBU, indicates emphatically that the LBF's involvement in a UK bout has not been met with approval by the EBU.

Whether or not the LBF continue with their involvement in the bout is yet to be seen, but surely if they do then then there could be a permanent exclusion of their membership within the EBU.

Nonetheless, more bloodshed seems set to happen after promoter Frank Warren promised to take legal action against the BBBoC by return, following their withering attack earlier in the month on the event, which promised to terminate any participant's British license for having any involvement in the card.

Immediately prior to the LBF's suspension, the BBBoC retracted their threats, but nonetheless Warren seems intent on pursuing them through the courts.

"The British Boxing Board of Control had an embarrassing climb down today (Friday, June 1) – withdrawing its threat to automatically terminate all of its members’ licences if they participate in the Haye vs Chisora fight,’ Warren said in a statement.

"I still take the Board’s threat to call me to account for my role in the fight as Dereck Chisora’s manager as unlawful. The Board seems to have pre-judged the issue without hearing the point of view of any of its members and this is just wrong.

"I intend to issue proceedings next week and will support all other licence holders who feel intimidated into not participating in the Haye vs Chisora promotion.

"I may not be the only one suing the Board. The Board has also stopped fighters such as Kevin Mitchell, who I also manage, from fighting on the undercard.

"This is such a shame as Kevin was looking forward to fighting in front of the crowd at West Ham and it would have been great for the fans to see him again.

"He is asking the Board to re-consider and it may be forced to do so rather than face proceedings from Kevin for the purse he would have earned together with the lost opportunity to fight in front of 40,000 people."

Who knows for sure if the fight will happen or not now; One thing is for sure and that is there is a lot of money at stake - and we forecast that by one means or another, Haye and Chisora will settle their differences on the 14th of July.

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