• Heavyweight

Publicity stunt talk 'moronic' - Warren

ESPN staff
February 19, 2012
David Haye was embroiled in a press-conference row which led to a skirmish in Munich © Getty Images
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Promoter Frank Warren has reacted angrily to suggestions that the brawl between David Haye and Dereck Chisora was a publicity stunt designed to generate interest in a potential fight between the pair.

Haye and Chisora came to blows at a press conference in Munich on Saturday after Chisora's unsuccessful attempt to win the WBC heavyweight title from Vitali Klitschko. Haye appeared to be holding a bottle in his hand when he aimed a punch at Chisora during the skirmish.

Chisora has subsequently been arrested by Munich police, who are still trying to track down Haye.

"I would say they [those suggesting it was a stunt] were total idiots. I'm sure if you think somebody wants to do a stunt like that - to get hit with a bottle, to wind up in a Munich police station … You've just got to be a complete moron to come up with a suggestion like that," Warren told Sky Sports News.

Warren insists it was not Chisora who let his fists fly first in the melee that saw Adam Booth, Haye's trainer, emerge with a bloodied forehead.

"If you see some of the footage and photographs, you'll see it wasn't Dereck who threw the first punch," Warren said. "I'm not condoning him or trying to stick up for him - what happened was outrageous and wrong."

Warren expects Chisora to return to England on Sunday.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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