The World Boxing Council announced earlier today their immediate and indefinite suspension of British heavyweight boxer Dereck Chisora, following the controversial events that happened in Munich a fortnight ago surrounding his challenge for Vitali Klitschko’s WBC world heavyweight title. As is well known, Chisora slapped Klitschko across the face at the post weigh-in ‘stare-down’, spat in his brother Wladimir’s face in the ring during the national anthems, and then engaged in an all out brawl with former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye at the post-fight press conference that culminated with Chisora shouting his intention to ”shoot” and ”burn” Haye.”
In an official statement released on their website, the World Boxing Council announced:
”Jose Sulaiman, Mexico, president of The World Boxing Council has followed strictly all the actions related to the misconduct of Derek Chisora, that is considered one of the worst behaviors ever by a professional boxer, and we stand strongly with the BBB of C and the BDB to resolve this case immediately. The WBC is absolutely condemning behaviors that are not to be accepted in boxing under any circumstances and will act as soon as it can proceed to impose the fines and sanctions as we consider necessary.”
”The WBC is imposing a serious fine to be finally determined after the hearing to be held under the supervision of our counsel representative attorney Stephen Beverly , the WBC will also take off from the WBC rankings, the name of Derek Chisora and declare an indefinite suspension against fighting again for a WBC title, while demanding Chisora to take an anger management medical treatment after which his suspension will be reconsidered.
Boxing has won through the years an outstanding position in the world of sports and is liked by a President as well as by a shoe shine boy; the WBC has devoted at least 35 years for safety and boxing is today a sport that had only one fatal accident in minor boxing, that has overturned the past; boxers are gentlemen and show to the world an example of honor and fair play when after a tremendous battle, they go to the center of the ring to pay respect to each other.”
”Derek Chisora is not going to tarnish the sport for those born in the humblest beds, who become sports heroes of the world to live a life of dignity and pride. Chisora, however, as a human being that he is, is going to be strongly invited to enter an anger management rehabilitating program that hopefully will act in his benefit.”
An additional statement that came direct from the offices of WBC president Jose Sulaiman said:
“The WBC is absolutely condemning behaviors that are not to be accepted in boxing under any circumstances and will act as soon as it can proceed to impose the fines and sanctions as we consider necessary. Derek Chisora is not going to tarnish the sport for those born in the humblest beds, who become sports heroes of the world to live a life of dignity and pride.”
Chisora’s manager and promoter Frank Warren was quick to react, and told Sky Sports:
“What I find strange about this is that there hasn’t been a hearing. Somebody arbitrarily saying ‘you’re banned’ can’t be any form of natural justice. Even the police in Germany let Dereck go after questioning. A lot of things happened behind the scenes. There were some things which he did which absolutely were wrong and he shouldn’t have done, and I’m not condoning that. But, at the end of the day, you are entitled to a hearing before anybody makes a decision. 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.”
The WBC have been accused of hypocrisy by some corners over their treatment of 28 year old Zimbabwe born Chisora (15-3, 9 KOs), and cited the example of Mexico’s former three time welterweight champion Antonio Margarito in particular, discovered attempting to fight with plaster-of-Paris inserts in his hand wraps prior to a WBA title defence against Shane Mosley in 2009 and banned for life by the California State Athletic Commission.
Although the suspicion was that Margarito may have used the inserts for fights previously, including his brutal 11th round TKO over Miguel Cotto in 2008, the WBC allowed the Mexican to fight and beat Robert Garcia for the WBC international super welterweight title while still unlicensed in the US, then installed him as the no.1 contender for their world 154 lb title. (Margarito was subsequently hammered over twelve rounds by Manny Pacquiao.)
Few things are more dangerous in an already potentially deadly sport like boxing than turning ones fists into lumps of concrete, as Margarito clearly intended to do against Mosley, yet the WBC welcomed him back after just a year when virtually every boxing journalist on the planet was demanding the Mexican do jail time.
So where does the WBC’s decision leave Chisora? So far the WBA, WBO and IBF have not commented on Chisora, but as those belts are all held by the Klitschko brothers, and their manager Bernd Boente has already stated that they would never entertain Chisora again, his avenue to another world title fight would seem blocked.
As of now, he cannot fight in Europe until the results of the BBBC’s investigation are announced on March 14. If his ban is lengthy, he may choose to ply his trade in the US. Chisora visited Poland last week and was apparently in talks with Tomasz Adamek’s management over a fight either in Poland or New Jersey, where Adamek has a fervent following.
Kalle Sauerland, head of Sauerland Event, Germany’s biggest boxing promoters, are keen to match Chisora against one of their fighters, which include Alexander Povetkin, holder of the WBA ‘regular’ world title. Scandal or not, Chisora is big news right now, and that equates to big box-office.
The final word goes to Del Boy himself, who after hearing the news of his suspension by the WBC tweeted:
”Song of the evening: ”Me against the world” 2pac”
