• Boxing

Board to probe Haye bet controversy

ESPN staff
November 15, 2010
Audley Harrison was left flat on his back in the third round by David Haye © PA Photos
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David Haye has his sights trained on the Klitschko brothers, but the fallout from his controversial win over Audley Harrison continues with the British Boxing Board of Control set to investigate the champion's comments about placing a bet on himself to win the fight.

The referee stopped the contest in the third, deeming Harrison in no state to defend himself, after the first two rounds had passed off with barely a punch being thrown. There have been calls for Harrison to have his purse withheld on account of his abject display, and the BBBC are planning to take a look, but the post-fight comments of Haye have also come to their attention.

In his post-fight interview, Haye said: "I put a lot of money on the third round and a lot of my friends and family did. I didn't want to let them down by doing him too early. Ask around - I told everyone I'd knock him out in three rounds. That's exactly what I did. No way was he going into that fourth round."

With Haye's statement clear, board general secretary Robert Smith said: "It is against our regulations for boxers to bet on themselves."

There is little danger of the fight being annulled, as Smith continued: "We will examine the case and the sanctions available to us. We could be looking at a fine but if we find that David acted in ignorance of the laws, a warning might be appropriate."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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