Dereck Chisoras manager Frank Warren says greater than 20,000 tickets were sold for his fighters bout with David Haye at Upton Park on Bastille Day.
Neither boxer holds a British licence and Chisora was suspended in February following a brawl between the pair.
"Weve sold greater than 20,000 since they went on sale on Wednesday morning. The capacity is 40,000," he told BBC Sport.
"Im sure theres more interest than there would was if there hadnt been a fracas."
The summer bout is being licensed by the Luxembourg Boxing Federation, and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) has threatened sanctions against all involved.
How can the fight happen?
European Union freedom of trade laws permit the fight to be held inside the Uk, while they've been given licences by the Luxembourg Boxing Federation.
- Read more: Haye & Chisora fight Q&A
Chisora had his boxing licence withdrawn after the brawl in Munich, although he has appealed against the choice, while Haye opted to not renew his own licence, having announced his retirement in October 2011.
Warren added: "I always felt it was a fight the fans would need to look at.
"The [British Boxing] boards blessing is not very required. Chisora was not banned from boxing, and everybody is missing that time.
"They [BBBofC] made it clear once they withdrew Chisoras licence he was free to visit every other federation. The door was left open for him to re-apply for a licence. His appeal, for some reason, got delayed until July.
"He did what was suggested by them. Not only him, but in addition David Haye."
The BBBofC issued a strongly-worded statement on Wednesday which threatened to terminate the licence of anyone excited by the bout.
The statement said: "Any member who participates in any such promotion would bring the game of boxing into disrepute and would wholly undermine the authority of the British Boxing Board of Control.
"For the avoidance of doubt, any member of the British Boxing Board of Control who participates whatsoever in any such promotion might be deemed to have terminated his/her membership of the British Boxing Board of Control and his/her licence therewith, for the explanations stated above."
But Warren - who holds a licence as a promoter - doesn't believe his is in danger from the threat.
Please switch on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.
"In the event that they think Im going to only roll over and let that happen then theyre sorely mistaken," he said.
"Im disappointed. I dont understand why theyre taking this stance.
"The difficulty is with the board, not with Dereck Chisora. Its just that the fight is going on within the UK. The BBBofC were involved and certified fights in Dubai, Egypt and Portugal prior to now."
From WhatNewsToday.net
0 comments:
Post a Comment