Vitali Klitschko Defeats Dereck Chisora But Fight Is Marred By Brawl At Press Conference
By CIARAN FAHEY, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MUNICH — Vitali Klitschko's 10th successful defense of his WBC heavyweight title ended in chaos Saturday night when challenger Dereck Chisora brawled with former WBA champion David Haye during the post-match news conference.
Chisora taunted Haye about losing the WBA belt to Klitschko's younger brother, Wladimir, last July, leading to a heated exchange before Chisora knocked a bottle out of Haye's hand and they came to blows.
Haye also fought with members of Chisora's entourage, and his coach, Adam Booth, was left bleeding from a cut on his head.
Camera equipment went flying and reporters fled before security eventually managed to separate the men and police arrived at the scene.
"You've really lost it this time," Chisora told Haye.
The 40-year-old Klitschko beat Chisora in a bruising bout in which the Ukrainian claimed to have fought from the fourth round with only his right fist after hurting his left hand.
"I think we all heard excuses about a broken toe," Chisora later retorted, referring to Haye's loss to Wladimir Klitschko in Germany last July.
Chisora found very little support from the sellout crowd of 12,500 after slapping Vitali Klitschko's face at the weigh-in on Friday, and ensured the ill feelings continued when he spit water in Wladimir's face as his brother's record was being called out before their bout.
"I wanted to knock him out, to be honest," Vitali Klitschko said. "Such a cheek."
Wladimir acted as a buffer as Chisora continued to goad them.
Vitali was clearly incensed, but it took some time before he could assert control against the Briton's aggressive approach. His greater reach and experience made the difference.
The judges scored it 118-110, 118-110 and 119-111.
Chisora said after the bout that he wanted a rematch, or a bout with Wladimir, who is the "super" WBA champion and the holder of the IBF and minor WBO and IBO belts. The younger Klitschko is due to fight next against Jean-Marc Mormeck of France on March 3 in Duesseldorf.
"He won't fight me again," Chisora said. "I don't blame you. I wouldn't fight me either."
Klitschko improved to 44-2 (40 KOs) after what was arguably the toughest bout he's had to endure since losing on a technical knockout to Lennox Lewis in 2003.
The Zimbabwe-born Chisora dropped to 15-3 (nine KOs) after his third defeat in his last four fights, but he had the fans in Munich's Olympiahalle worried as Klitschko appeared to tire from his relentless attacks.
Sensing an upset, they chanted the Ukrainian's name in the seventh round before Klitschko reasserted his dominance with a series of precision blows.
Chisora was bleeding from the lip after the first round, but seemed more than capable of taking Klitschko's repeated punishment.
Klitschko eventually took control of the bout in the ninth round, catching Chisora with a huge right and seemingly picking his punches at will. Chisora was barely hanging on in the 10th.
"He tried it all, but apart from a few grazes I didn't get anything more," Klitschko said.
Chisora gave it everything he had in the 12th and final round as he sought a knockout blow, but Klitschko, knowing the work was already done, used his greater experience to safely see out the round, and maintain the brothers' dominance of the heavyweight division.
"I wanted to give him what he deserves. It didn't work out. Life is an interesting thing. Life is long. Who knows? Maybe we'll meet some other day," Klitschko said.
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First Posted: 02/19/2012 10:23 am Updated: 02/19/2012 10:23 am