BBOC Response

It has come to the attention of the Stewards of the British Boxing Board of Control that the Luxembourg Boxing Federation is considering putting on a promotion within the jurisdiction of the Board between Dereck Chisora and David Haye. The Stewards condemn any attempt by the Luxembourg Boxing Federation to do so.

Dereck Chisora has recently had his licence withdrawn by the Stewards of the British Boxing Board of Control on the ground that he is not a fit and proper person to hold a boxer’s licence. David Haye does not hold a boxer’s licence with the British Boxing Board of Control. If he applied for a licence his fitness to hold a licence would have to be considered, particularly in light of the part he played in what occurred at the press conference held subsequent to the Vitali Klitschko v Dereck Chisora contest.

Those behind this proposal are not concerned with the interests of the sport of professional boxing. Any member who participates in such a promotion would bring the sport of boxing into disrepute and would wholly undermine the authority of the British Boxing Board of Control, of which he/she is a member, as the regulatory body for professional boxing in the United Kingdom. This is nothing more than an attempt to circumvent the decision of the Stewards of the British Boxing Board of Control, in respect of Dereck Chisora, for monetary gain. Dereck Chisora’s proper remedy is by way of appeal to the Independent Stewards of Appeal, which is due to take place on the 2nd July 2012.

The British Boxing Board of Control has controlled and regulated professional boxing in the United Kingdom since 1929. Its primary concern is the safety of the boxer and its regulations have been developed and implemented accordingly. It has also ensured that the rules of boxing are enforced to the highest standard. Its reputation as a regulatory body is second to none within the wider boxing world. It can only act effectively with the consent and support of its members.

The Articles of Association (the “Constitution”) of the British Boxing Board of Control, to which every member has agreed to be bound, make it perfectly clear that the object of the British Boxing Board of Control is to control and regulate boxing in the United Kingdom. Any member of the British Boxing Board of Control who participates in any way in a promotion such as that referred to above would thereby evince an intention not to be bound by the Constitution of the British Boxing Board of Control and would act in a manner wholly incompatible therewith. In such circumstances the British Boxing Board of Control would accept that member’s repudiation of the Constitution as terminating his/her membership of the British Boxing Board of Control and his/her licence.

The British Boxing Board of Control has made its position clear to the Luxembourg Boxing Federation, the European Boxing Union and World Sanctioning Organisations and has already received strong support for its stance. As stated above, the British Boxing Board of Control does not approve of such a promotion taking place within its jurisdiction and will not supply any of its officials to officiate at such a promotion. For the avoidance of doubt, any member of the British Boxing Board of Control who participates in any way in such a promotion will be deemed to have terminated his/her membership of the British Boxing Board of Control and his/her licence therewith, for the reasons stated above.

Further, the Stewards of the British Boxing Board of Control make it clear that the British Boxing Board of Control will assume no responsibility in respect of any aspect of such promotion and any participation therein would not be covered by any insurance policy taken out by the Board.

Participation includes taking any steps directly or indirectly, to arrange, advertise, broadcast, facilitate, officiate or take part in any way in such a promotion.

Well done BBOC

Over to you Mr Warren.

That's for you Mr Warren Cheers Shah.

Be good to know Luxembourgh's response, strange that they have stated any official officiating at the promotion will be axed, surely they wouldn't even consider it.

Good news, we can rule out Ian John Lewis making an appearance by the looks of things.

Unfortunately probably move it out to luxembourg and make even more money from travel agents offering them money to have ticket package deals. But a little spine from the BBOC is always nice to see.

I tried to figure it out but gave up.

What would happen if they hosted this in France now?

Would the people promoting it still face sanctions or is that only applicable on British soil?

From what i made out i think it would be ok abroad.

Yeh its fine abroad - BBOC specifically stated - Our Jurisdiction

I'll be suprised if the Luxembourg Boxing Federation stick two fingers up at them.

They went some way towards getting themselves into this mess and this seems like a bit of a hopeful attempt to get themselves out of it.

Interestingly, would the stance regarding terminated memberships affect Frank Warren in any way? I don't know if he is indeed a member of the Board but if he is, would participation in this mean the BBBC would not sanction any of his future events?

Warrens mate works there in the board and I think he is getting the promoter fee because Warren isn't taking commision. That fee alone could probably turn Luxembourg into a super power. 900% GDP

As - for the rest of their fighters - they cant fight for british belts or appeal to the board when FW inevitably Flip em em over

Irrespective of the BBBC's stance, Chisora and Haye still stand to make a lot of money from this. There's always some businessman willing to shell out cash for it to take place.

The BBBC may have right on their side but as it currently stands they are still vitually powerless to stop the fight taking place.

I foresee a change of heart at some point though as various squeaky wheels get greased

ShahenshahG wrote:As - for the rest of their fighters - they cant fight for british belts or appeal to the board when FW inevitably Flip em em over

Thanks, Shah. So would seem like he does stand to lose a bit.

He doesnt - but all the others barring the main two do. Could turn out to be ineffectual as Luxembourg could send their officials over to us but the undercard fighters might want to think thrice before deciding

The thing about it is, Warren must have been planning this event for some time. Its not like the BBBC delayed the appeal date and lo and behold a few days later Warren had Upton Park booked, tickets printed and and undercard ready. It must have been in the pipeline for a few weeks at least which means regardless of any decision made by the BBBC this fight was going to go ahead.

I do think its strange that he would risk destroying his relationship and influence with the BBBC entirely for the sake of one fight, albeit a profitable one.

Well..If Hollande keeps up this sort of talk we might get kicked out of the EU Cameron will never let his bumchums be taxed. Then Warren will be tied to a barrel with his trousers pulled down while the bboc take turns.

So basically they have no powers to stop the fight going ahead. Although any BBBC member who participates will be thrown out of the organisation. Haye and Chisora are not with the BBBC, and Warren will just get in international judges, ref and other officials, so it's really no bother to him.

The BBBC overreacted to this in the first place and left Warren with little option.

Well said that statement! Good to see that the Board of Control are showing some backbone on the matter. Shame on the Luxembourg Federation for supporting this and ultimately allowing to take place. Especially against the wishes of the majority of the public, fans and Britains own Board of Control.

As Manos has mentioned recently you do have to wonder if Warren is willing to put his licence and his fighters ability to contest British titles at risk for one fight, he must have known his actions would lead to this kind of response from the Board, seems he is risking a lot for one fight, can he really be that desperate to shift boxnation subscriptions?

Ouch what a standoff..........I posted on a thread earlier I didn't see this fight happening and I think I might be right for once!!!

BBBc have ruling authority in this Country and are a formidable enemy...

Imagine Boxnation numbers aren't all that and Warren wasn't thinking straight!!!

To me this is a fight only the British board can win........

Mayweathers cellmate wrote:So basically they have no powers to stop the fight going ahead. Although any BBBC member who participates will be thrown out of the organisation. Haye and Chisora are not with the BBBC, and Warren will just get in international judges, ref and other officials, so it's really no bother to him.

The BBBC overreacted to this in the first place and left Warren with little option.

I dont think its fair to say that the BBBC overreacted. They handed out a punishment and then were set to review it on appeal. Warren just couldnt wait 5 months. As I said above. Theres no way Warren hasnt been planning this bout for some time. As soon as Chisoras licence was suspended Id say he was on the phone arranging this. It didnt matter what the BBBC did, Warren was going to push the fight through.

However the BBBC were sloppy though and inviting something like this. If you suspend a licence but fall short of issuing a ban, and then go on to invite Chisora to apply elsewhere well then it looks like you just want to make him someone elses problem. The only reason the BBBC care is because they have been made look like amateurs and want to maintain a moral image. If the fight went ahead in Luxembourg I dont think they would care as that is essentially what they suggested Chisora do.

Its a strange set of circumstances though because would it really have killed Warren to wait the extra couple of months for the appeal hearing?

I think the question.... would it have killed Warren to wait?? is probably answered by the desperate way he's gone cap in hand to Luxembourg......

and in the way some of his employees are saying it's the fight of the Century etc....

If Boxnation goes down the tubes and Warren is an outsider looking in....

Hearn is the Man now!!!! and he knows how to turn the screws as Hatton has found out....

How can the BBBoC try and take such a moral high ground when they let so much stuff slide when it suits them. I hope the fight still goes ahead despite those assclowns at the BBBoC.

The fight goes ahead and Warren will find out who is a friend and who is an acquaintance!!!

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:The fight goes ahead and Warren will find out who is a friend and who is an acquaintance!!!

That's true and I imagine he might be a bit short of friends.

Anyone involved in the Haye and Chisora promotion will be stripped of there BBBofC Licences, this includes Warren.

http://www.thisisjersey.com/sport/uk-sport/2012/05/09/board-warning-over-hayechisora-bout/

"The British Boxing Board of Control have warned all those involved in the impending heavyweight promotion between David Haye and Dereck Chisora will be automatically stripped of their licences.

The Board are determined to come down hard on the show, which has been sanctioned by the Luxembourg Boxing Federation despite neither Haye nor Chisora currently holding licences to box in Britain. Their warning means any licence holder – including the promoter, managers, seconds and other fighters on the bill – will be deemed to have broken the terms of their membership, and instantly stripped.

“The Articles of Association…of the British Boxing Board of Control, to which every member has agreed to be bound, make it perfectly clear that the object of the BBBoC is to control and regulate boxing in the United Kingdom,” the Board said in a statement.

“Any member of the BBBoC who participates in any way in a promotion such as that referred to above would thereby evince an intention not to be bound by the Constitution of the BBBoC and would act in a manner wholly incompatible therewith.

“In such circumstances the BBBoC would accept that member’s repudiation of the Constitution as terminating his/her membership of the BBBoC and his/her licence.”

While the threat will not unduly worry either Haye or Chisora – who in a sense already have nothing to lose – it could have a devastating impact on those working around the fringes of the promotion.

The Board’s decision to clamp down hard follows widespread criticism of its decision to strip Chisora of his licence in April following his press conference brawl with Haye in Munich, rather than hit him with a specific ban.

Chisora is appealing against the decision, but as both he and Haye are unlicensed rather than banned, it made it easier for the Luxembourg Boxing Federation to sanction the contest."




Will this sever all ties with Warren and the BBBofC?? A lot of big things happening here...

Alex Shah has already posted up the BBBoC statement, so will merge this with his thread, particularly as we are not exactly short of Haye or Chiosra threads currently

My bad didnt realise an article was already up!

If they fought outside the UK would the board's objections still stand?

Don't think it can as then it would be out of their juristiction.

http://www.bbbofc.com/notices

Can't find any mention of exactly what their jurisdiction is. This is important as their objection is that the fight is taking place in their jurisdiction. If they are the "British" board then that wouldn't include Northern Ireland, so they could feasibly hold the fight in Belfast??

They should hold it on sealand cruise ships for the fans and the penthouse suites for the boxers. I;d bloody well go.

The BBBC are just an organisation like any other, who just happen to have the monopoly on boxing sanctioning in this country. The damning statement they've made has nothing really to do with their principles regarding Chisora and Haye, and everything to do with their dominance being threatened by possible new rival sanctioning bodies in the UK.

It is very dangerous for them to treat the hands that feed them this way.

Im not sure I would agree with BBBC doing this out of self interest. I would have thought if they were just interested in keeping themselves at the top they would have been happy to tow the line for Warren rather than, on the surface at least, apparently taking him on.

I think its interesting that Warren would risk a big fallout with them for the sake of this fight, which could probably have gone ahead in 6 months time with much less of a fuss and at the BBBCs blessing. He must want to cash in on the hype and controversy while its still in the sportlight in order to maximise boxnation subscriptions. As I said on another on another point, he has obviously been planning this even well in advance with or without the BBBCs cooperation.

But it seems to be fighting talk from the BBBC and will be interesting to see how difficult they are willing or able to make things for Warren after this as a result if they are genuinely angry.

The Galveston Giant wrote:I'll be suprised if the Luxembourg Boxing Federation stick two fingers up at them.

I wouldn't be surprised if Luxembourg do tell them to shove it, money talks. What can the BBoC do to them? Luxemborg don't normally hold any big fights and this is their one big chance to make some good money! Stuff the BBoC monopoly, it bit of competition is good for them. And they only have themselves to blame by handing out punishments without any concrete deadlines.

markj3k wrote:

The Galveston Giant wrote:I'll be suprised if the Luxembourg Boxing Federation stick two fingers up at them.

I wouldn't be surprised if Luxembourg do tell them to shove it, money talks. What can the BBoC do to them? Luxemborg don't normally hold any big fights and this is their one big chance to make some good money! Stuff the BBoC monopoly, it bit of competition is good for them. And they only have themselves to blame by handing out punishments without any concrete deadlines.

Basically Warrens fighters will be shunned by the BBoC and have to either a) Fight abroad or b) always under the banner of the Luxembourg Boxing commission.

So this means essentially, there is no need for each individual country to have its own Boxing commission - they all fall under one EU jurisdiction.

This is a worrying can of worms.

JabMachineMK2 wrote:Basically Warrens fighters will be shunned by the BBoC and have to either a) Fight abroad or b) always under the banner of the Luxembourg Boxing commission

Is that actually legal under EU rules as technically thats stopping someone from earning a wage due to a companys personal agenda

If they operate in such a way that brings the company (BBoC) into disrepute then they're legally allowed to withhold the license.

Imagine it like being fired by your employer for gross misconduct. You can't sue them if your appeal is denied by a mediator.

Chisora should have waited for that, Warren doing this is just sticking two fingers up at regulatory bodies. I don't know if I care. Boxing is so corrupt anyway, I don't see what harm this will do except give more power to boxers/promoters.

Maybe Rocky balboa should have gone to the Luxembourg board in Rocky 5 instead!

I dont really see on what grounds they can attack Warren. Hes not broken any rules or done anything illegal. Hes merely taken advantage of a loophole the BBBC neglected to close. they didnt ban Chisora, they just wanted him to go somewhere else.

I think they are just annoyed they have been made look like amateurs by Warren.

When the BBBoC can't be bothered to do anything about shocking robberies like Fury vs McDermott and let a modern great like Barrera get royally shafted in his fight with Khan then I'm not sure what the actual point of them is.

They talk about looking out for the boxers health and best interests but I'm not sure that it was in Barrera's best interest to be told his cut was OK to fight with until the fight had conveniently gone on long enough to go to the cards. Also there is not a doubt in my mind that they would grant the likes of Holyfield and Jones Jr a licence despite them being a risk to themselves. It's nice to see a promoter screwing someone who deserves it for a change.

Come to think of it, why do we actually need a BBoC anyway? All we need are the standard rules of boxing and a couple of laws:-

1. All bouts must have proper medical supervision
2. All bouts must be refereed by an appropriately qualified person

There's really no need for any other regulation. Or have I forgotten something important?

bellchees wrote:When the BBBoC can't be bothered to do anything about shocking robberies like Fury vs McDermott and let a modern great like Barrera get royally shafted in his fight with Khan then I'm not sure what the actual point of them is.

They talk about looking out for the boxers health and best interests but I'm not sure that it was in Barrera's best interest to be told his cut was OK to fight with until the fight had conveniently gone on long enough to go to the cards. Also there is not a doubt in my mind that they would grant the likes of Holyfield and Jones Jr a licence despite them being a risk to themselves. It's nice to see a promoter screwing someone who deserves it for a change.

Aye, if Warren secured a fight for Cleverley with RJJ, then I'm sure the BBBC would sanction it despite the howls of protest from all four corners of the globe....and people would STILL pay to watch it!!!!!!!

Well according to his Twitter Kevin Mitchell seems to think he has a world title fight on the card for this. What will the BBBC make of that?

I'm hoping this fight comes off, don't think he's done filling the card yet, i'll be happy as long as Burns and Mitchell fight next whenever.

Heard that Danny Williams and Scott Harrison could be on the card also.

I don't think I could bring myself to watch Williams again, it was painful last time, the bloke is done (DONE).

I hope Williams and Harrison are not on it to be honest. Williams is basically a journeyman now who I thought didnt even try against Chisora last time at Upton Park. Harrison seems finished also and doesnt look to be able to get it together. They are both just names now but not much more than that.

Mitchel/Burns would be fantastic though.

Yeah not to interested in Williams Manos although i obviously am in Scott Harrison, Groves v Anderson also has the potential to be on there but he's going to have to keep fighters to headline other shows. Seems Burns v Mitchell is still a possibility which would be fantastic, chance to have 3 Scots on the bill which would bring a fair crowd down.

Yeah Groves/Anderson would be a great addition but no idea how that would sit with the BBBC. Presumeably the domestic titles would not be up for grabs and I dont know how serious they are about their threat of expelling anyone associated with the promotion.