Chisora v Haye: Both boxers should be punished for fight

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Page last updated at 13:43 GMT, Thursday, 10 May 2012 14:43 UK

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By Greg Dawson
Newsbeat reporter in north London Des Gyimah

The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) has criticised the proposed fight between heavyweights David Haye and Dereck Chisora.

It's due to take place at West Ham United's Upton Park stadium on 14 July.

The fight is taking place after the pair were involved in a brawl at a news conference in Munich following Chisora's defeat by WBC title holder Vitali Klitschko in February.

It's really for money. It's really for the crowd. They've both disrespected the country. They should be punished

Des Gyimah

It is being sanctioned by the little-known Luxembourg Boxing Federation.

"Those behind this proposal are not concerned with the interests of the sport of professional boxing," the BBBoC said in a statement.

They said anyone involved in the fight could have their licence revoked.

"Any member who participates in such a promotion would bring the sport of boxing into disrepute and would wholly undermine the authority of the British Boxing Board of Control, of which he/she is a member, as the regulatory body for professional boxing in the United Kingdom."

'Mockery'

The BBBoC will not sanction the fight because neither boxer holds a British licence.

Des Gyimah trains at the Islington Boxing Club in north London. He thinks the fight is a bad idea.

"It's really for money," he said. "It's really for the crowd.

"It makes a mockery of a system, which is the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC). They don't want it to go ahead.

"They've both disrespected the country. They should be punished."

So far only one fight - between American Hasim Rahman and Russia's reigning WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin - has been announced for the undercard of the fight.

It's unclear if any other British boxers will chance losing their licences by taking part.

"I know both characters have both got quite big egos but there comes a point when you believe in yourself a bit too much," Des Gyimah said.

On Facebook, fans have been having their say.

Nicholas Grace said: "The British board should just grant these two a licence and let them go at it. It will be a money spinner and personally a fight I want to see."

Rob Gladwell added: "The purse money that is set should be given to charity."