Boxing: Dereck Chisora and trainer Don Charles bury the hatchet

By STEPHEN HALLIDAY
Published on 30/06/2012 00:00

DERECK Chisora and his trainer have both attempted to play down their altercation, which has threatened to disrupt the former’s preparations for his grudge match with David Haye next month.

The controversial fighter has won the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles under Don Charles’ tutelage, but the two came to blows in the gym recently. Charles hinted to BoxNation, the channel hosting the fight with Haye on 14 July, that he believed his protege was showing him a lack of respect.

But the two have apparently reconciled and are working towards the common goal of defeating Haye at Upton Park in a bout which has been sanctioned by the Luxembourg Boxing Federation after the British Boxing Board of Control refused to ratify the bout.

Chisora said: “This has been made out to be a big deal because people don’t see what goes on behind the gym doors.

“We are always arguing and rowing ahead of fights. It’s nothing new. When a fight as big as this against Haye is coming up, tensions are going to be high because it means everything to me to win.

“We were both cool again soon after and now we’re focused on beating Haye.”

Charles compared the incident to Sir Alex Ferguson and David Beckham’s bust-up 10 years ago, where the Manchester United manager is alleged to have kicked a football boot which struck the midfielder in the head.

“What’s happened has happened and we’ve moved on from it now,” said Charles.

“You see incidents like this in other sports when passions are running high like Alex Ferguson and David Beckham a few years ago. I want Dereck to win the fight as there is so much at stake and that is our primary aim.”