Frank Warren Statement: It comes as no surprise that the EBU has taken steps to remove the Luxembourg Federation, as the Chairman/President of the British Boxing Board of Control, Charles Giles, is also the Vice-Chairman of the EBU. In addition he is the Vice-President of the World Boxing Council and it can be expected that the WBC will disassociate itself with the Luxembourg Federation. Giles took the trouble to go to the EBU meeting held in Belgium on a long bank holiday weekend, yet he would not take the time to give evidence at Dereck Chisora’s original hearing at the BBBofC’s head office in Cardiff. He was in the very same building and despite Dereck’s barrister request to give evidence, he left out of the back door.
The EBU vote is not a fair reflection of the actual nations that voted on this matter as the BBBofC has a far larger vote on EBU decisions than any other country, because it represents more boxers than any other country. That said, the vote was cast without any consultation of the British licence holders that they are there to represent. It may well be that the Federation takes steps against the EBU, its lawyers have already written to the BBBofC to raise a complaint and are looking at the options.
Whilst the BBBofC maintains that it has no problem with the Federation licensing shows, it is difficult to understand why it would act in this way, especially without even speaking to the people it should be representing.
Both Luxembourg and the BBBofC are also affiliated with the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) and World Boxing Association (WBA) who have also sanctioned Haye v Chisora for their International and Intercontinental titles. The show will also feature the WBA Heavyweight Championship of the World between the champion Alexander Povetkin against former WBC champion Hasim Rahman.
So far 28,000 tickets have been sold for the show, with multiple reader polls supporting the fight, including the Daily Mail Online – the second largest English language news site in the world – which revealed that 71% would buy a ticket or watch the fight on BoxNation.
Even in Germany the public have voted to see the fight and a UK trade paper Boxing News poll gave it an overwhelming majority in favour.
A full undercard announced will be announced this Wednesday.
