ARD balks; heavyweight twinbill implodes

Top German network ARD has announced that it won’t televise the July 14 fight between David Haye​​ and Dereck Chisora because according to them, the fight doesn’t match the image they are trying to portray. ARD originally wanted the fight, which was to be part of a heavyweight doubleheader also that also would feature WBA beltholder Alexander Povetkin against Hasim Rahman. However, after Wladimir Klitschko labeled Haye-Chisora “a freak show,” the German Boxing Federation (Bund Deutscher Berufssboxer) called on the European Boxing Union to ban the Luxembourg Commission for sanctioning the fight, and the BBBofC threatened to terminate the license of anyone associated with the show, ARD had a change of heart. Promoter Sauerland Event is now reportedly planning to move the Povetkin-Rahman fight to Germany. Haye-Chisora is expected to draw 40,000+ to an outdoor stadium in London if it actually comes off.

• 
•