David Haye and Derek Chisora fought in 2012 in a matchup that had a fiery build-up.
The two British heavyweights would meet in football stadium Upton Park in London, but not before the two had a verbal war leading up to the fight.
Going into the fight with Chisora, Haye was coming off of a unanimous decision loss to Wladimir Klitschko in Germany to become world heavyweight champion.
As for Chisora, he was coming off of a loss to another Klitschko to become world champion, losing to Vitali on points. It was in Chisora’s fight in Germany that would see his rivalry with Haye truly kick off.
Chisora engaged with Haye at his press conference with Klitschko, which would ultimately lead to the British heavyweights facing one another.
Derek Chisora and David Haye clash in Munich press conference
Chisora was involved in a pre-fight press conference with Klitschko ahead of their 2012 bout. However, the main story that emerged from the media event would be Haye’s coming together with Chisora.
As Haye interrupted the press conference, Chisora responded by saying, “David, me and you will get it on in London, be quiet. David Haye is embarrassed man, Sky Sports don’t do box office because of David Haye. He messed up box office [opportunities] for all the young fighters coming up, and I’m going to give him two slaps for that.”
Following this, Haye and Chisora engaged in a verbal back and forth, as security was called to remove ‘Hayemaker’.
The battle of words would eventually lead Chisora to approach Haye, where the two came together as a scrap broke out.
‘Del Boy’ was fined for the coming together, which was the second time he faced a financial penalty in the lead-up to a fight, with Chisora having thrown a table at Dillian Whyte.
Despite the coming together ending in a violent nature, Haye had no remorse for the situation and refused to apologize.
In an interview with Sky News, Haye was asked, if he had any regrets from the press conference. Haye responded by saying, “No, I don’t regret defending myself.”
Haye would go on to say, “People need to remember the type of guy Derek Chisora is,” as he began to list off allegations of the fighter.
“I reacted in the way I thought was best,” said Haye.
The British heavyweight would go on to say that he knocked Chisora out at the press conference, “He was the one who ended up on his back that day.”
When prompted by the interviewer to apologize, Haye refused, feeling he had nothing to say sorry for.
David Haye vs Derek Chisora ended in thunderous knockout
When Haye and Chisora would finally get in the ring with one another, the fight delivered as much entertainment as their pre-fight antics.
Both men would engage in a brawl, with each fighter landing significant shots on one another.
However, it would be Haye who would be the victor of the bout, earning a fifth-round stoppage.
Despite Chisora landing a huge shot after the bell at the end of round three, it was not to be his night.
Round five would see Haye begin to land clean shots on his rival, before a knockdown from a nasty right hook. Shortly after the restart, Chisora would go down for a second time, and the grudge match would be over.
Despite the magnitude of the fight, Chisora’s life-changing fight would not come until five years later.