Chisora Does Not Have My Respect

Before this weekend I had little opinion good or bad of Mr. Chisora, beyond the fact that I thought he had some talent but turned in a lacklustre performance against Tyson Fury. Tonight he performed very well against an excellent opponent, albeit one whose age appears to have caught up with him rather severely. Although like most people I feel that he lost fairly, the scorecards were too wide and the fight was closer than I expected.

However, whatever respect this boxing performance might otherwise have earned him in my eyes is outweighed by his behaviour first at the weigh-in and subsequently in the ring today. Striking one's opponent outside of the ring without provocation is the act of someone who doesn't belong amongst civilised human beings. Spitting water in someone's face is the act of an infant or an undomesticated animal. Attempting to continue the fight after the final bell despite one's opponent extending his hand in friendship is relatively forgivable and indeed is something that Klitschko himself has done on a couple of occasions. However whereas there is generally an obvious reason for tensions to run high following a fight, in this case I can see no reasonable motive for the unsporting behaviour beyond the fact that Chisora is classless and of petty character.

I do not believe the fact that the Klitschko are hard bargainers justifies any of this behaviour whatsoever. Hard bargaining is the right of two men who behave in a civilised way outside the ring, and who have established their reputations by having had the dedication to step in the ring with and defeat in even combat many opponents over many years. Chisora should feel grateful for the opportunity to fight a legitimate heavyweight champion, despite his having suffered two defeats in his last three fights. There is also the matter of Mr. Chisora's hand wraps before the fight - perhaps if Chisora does not wish to be "messed around" like this in future, he should avoid provoking his opponent into doing so.

Until I see that Chisora reforms himself and apologises for this behaviour, I hope that no champion is generous enough to offer him a fight and I wish him no success in anything.

 

Yup, that pretty much sums this piece of human trash up.