• David Haye v Dereck Chisora

Warren hits back in ref row, says Del will KO Haye

ESPN staff
July 4, 2012
Frank Warren is Dereck Chisora's manager © PA Photos
Enlarge

Frank Warren, Dereck Chisora's manager, has reacted angrily to the David Haye camp's suggestion that Mickey Vann is a poor choice of referee for the July 14 grudge match at Upton Park.

Booth, Haye's trainer, said there was "no way" he was allowing Vann to be the third man in the ring, because Vann is not strong enough to take control of a "physical and ugly" heavyweight contest. Vann had been nominated by the Luxembourg Boxing Federation, which is licensing the contest.

However, Warren has launched a defence of Vann, pointing to his record of refereeing high-profile bouts in the past, including Lennox Lewis v Frank Bruno.

"I'm bitterly disappointed by suggestions from Booth about Mickey's impartiality," Warren said in the Sun. "The reason Mickey was on so many of my shows was [because] I was putting on top class world-title bouts that needed a top-class ref -- someone like Mickey Vann.

"Booth called into question Mickey's ability to handle heavyweights but I've seen plenty of big referees who are nothing short of useless. For a start, Mickey was the referee when Lennox Lewis fought Frank Bruno in Cardiff -- both bigger than Haye and Chisora yet the fight went off without trouble.

"As far as I am concerned Mickey is the perfect referee for the fight in terms of fitness and ability. He has been one of the country's top officials for many, many years. All Haye's camp should be worrying about is that whoever is in charge can count to ten because Dereck will knock out Haye."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices