Haye/Chisora set to clash & Khan v Peterson in doubt

In one of the busiest mornings of boxing there came huge news on the domestic front.

The first item to emerge was the shocking news from the other side of the Atlantic that Lamont Peterson has failed a pre-fight drug screening and as such will not be allowed to fight Amir Khan.

Team Peterson were quick to react with the following statement:

“Lamont, Barry Hunter & the entire team emphatically support random drug testing in the most comprehensive manner possible.  We are working with a team of pathologists & other medical specialists to confirm the origin of the test result.  Lamont has never had a positive test before or after this isolated occurrence.”

Team Kahn are shocked at the quick statement from the opposing camp and have stressed that Amir will continue preparations as normal despite this news.

“We’re continuing, he’s back in the gym today.  It’s early days, too early for us to understand what’s going to happen in the next few hours.  Amir’s a strong guy & he’s been through a lot more than this.  He’s a great lad, he’s had some difficult changes in the past.  He’s learnt to adapt to any change.  We have to be patient in this and wait to see what the Americans have to say about all this.”

More as the information comes in on that one, I guess.  Speculation will be rife, but based on past examples of failed pre-fight drug screenings, I can’t see how this fight will be taking place.  It will be an interesting run up to fight night to say the least.

In the biggest news of the day, the rumoured bout between British heavyweights Derek Chisora and former WBA Heavyweight champion David Haye is on and set for Upton Park on July 14th in a fight that will be sanctioned by the Luxembourg boxing federation.

The reason for Luxembourg being the licencing board is that in March of this year the British Boxing Board of control (BBBOC) withdrew Chisora’s fight licence after the ugly scenes involving himself and Haye at the post fight press conference for his fight with Vitali Kiltschko.

Haye escaped punishment for the incident as he wasn’t a current holder of a BBBOC licence.

Although not “fully” confirmed promoter Frank Warren is holding a press conference at the ground today and is quoted in today’s “The Sun” newspaper with the following:

“Before anyone starts screaming, let me point out the Luxembourg boxing association was formed in 1922 – seven years before the British Board.  They have given their approval for the bout and it will go on at Upton Park under their jurisdiction.  As fully fledged members of the European Boxing Union, that is what they are entitled to do.  I never said Derek shouldn’t be punished, but the board here withdrew his licence – they did not ban him so he can apply to any boxing board.”

It’s certainly interesting that the fight has been made and there can be no doubt that a matchup between the two men should be compelling as they have a genuine dislike for each other.  The problem people will have with the fight though is the nature of how it has come about.

The two men embarrassed the nation and the sport of boxing with their conduct in Munich in February and now are set to reward themselves with a big payday.

Let’s just hope that the action in the ring is enough to make everyone forget those scenes and deliver an exciting match-up that will showcase British Heavyweight boxing in a positive light.

Alan Pendred