Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of the eagerly-anticipated grudge fight between David Haye and Dereck Chisora.
The bout is a result of their now-infamous press conference brawl in Munich, which followed Chisora's defeat to Vitali Klitschko.
Neither fighter was granted a licence by the British Boxing Board of Control following February's antics, forcing Frank Warren to seek ratification from the Luxembourg Boxing Federation in order to stage the fight.
That, in turn, led the BBBoC to threaten action against anyone, fighter or promoter, involved in the show. Warren has now begun legal proceedings on the grounds of intimidation.
Despite much wrangling and voices of discontent, the fight will go on and around 30,000 fans are expected to pile into Upton Park for the 10-round contest, with many more watching from around the world.
Please note that the fighters are expected to enter the ring at 9.45pm.
22.45Speaking of boxers with amazing hand-speed, Amir Khan fights later, and you can catch the action here with me. The fight is due to start at 4am, so get to bed now and set your alarm. Goodnight, for now...
22.43Haye's hand speed at the end was frightening. In the heavyweight division, that is absolutely rapid. That's the advantage of stepping up from cruiserweight. For the first time since stepping up, though, Haye looked troubled by his opponent's power. Overcame it well, though...
22.39It was good while it lasted. David Haye is the winner, but he was caught a few times. Adam Booth says Haye's next fight is "Klitschko or nobody".
22.36There's plenty of love between the pair now that it has been settled. Surely it won't rumble on any longer.
22.35Haye: "I doubt that Vitali wants to fight me after that. He'll probably fight some chump and then retire to become a politician or whatever..."
22.34Chisora: "first and foremost, I have to say congratulations to David. I owe David Haye ?20k."
Haye: "The money is going to leukemia trust."
22.33Haye: "I only expected it to go a few rounds, he made me work harder than expected."
22.32Haye: "The finish, I can tell you, Dereck Chisora has one of the best chins, if not the best, that I've ever hit. He'll be champion one day."
22.30... and the fighters shake hands and embrace. Chisora is smiling, even. Wow...
22.29It was a fantastic two-punch combination from Haye to send him down the first time. He actually caught Chisora with five stiff shots to send him down for the second time.
22.27Tremendous shot had initially sent Chisora down and he struggled to get up. After getting up, he was unsteady and was clinging on for dear life. Once Haye was able to shake him off, a few swift shots sent Chisora crashing to the canvas once again. The referee calls it off and I don't think Del Boy is complaining.
Round 5IT'S OVER! THE REFEREE CALLS IT OFF!
Round 5Chisora is hanging on, and he is down again!
Round 5CHISORA DOWN!
Round 5Chisora is swinging wildly. The quality work is coming from the gloves of Haye.
Round 5Haye is actually working the inside better. When Chisora attacks, he looks like a lunatic and Haye is easily evading his onslaughts. Haye's counter punching is awesome, too
End of Round 4Best round of the contest. Both men have shown weaknesses. I think Haye comes off better, and he is up 3-1. There is no art to Chisora's punching technique.
Round 4Both men are open. One punch could end it!
Round 4Chisora's little burst in that last round will remind Haye to stay on his toes. Both men land heavy shots, but it's Haye who comes off the better. Another big shot from Chisora and this is reaching fever pitch now!
Round 4Finally, the referee pulls Haye's guard down.
End of Round 3Chisora wobbles Haye, but there is confusion as the bell had sounded - but no one heard it! The punch landed after the bell, and Haye took it. Chisora tries to bump Haye over before making the way back to the stools. Spicy!
Round 3Nice uppercut on the inside from Haye.
Round 3Chisora is doing exactly what Haye said he would do. Marching forward behind his gloves. Haye looks comfortable here.
Round 3Expect the fight to step up a gear now. It's 10 rounds remember so, in real money, we're in the 'fifth' round.
End of Round 2Stiff jabs from Haye keep Chisora at length. All square on my card... and a bit of needle at the bell between the pair as well. That right hand from Haye stopped Chisora midway through that round.
Round 2Chisora lunges, but Haye saw it coming a mile off and evades.
Round 2Haye is hitting gloves, but he catches Chisora flush with the right. Nice work. did not go in for the kill.
Round 2Haye's guard is very, very high. It does not look legitimate...
End of Round 1Chisora was trying to get on the inside. I'd actually give him the round for a nice combo at the start, that ended with a nice right hook. Defence looks tight too.
Round 1Plenty of busy work, but nothing of substance yet. Neither fighter is being overawed by their emotions.
Round 1It's underway and, as in Munich, it's Haye who lands the first punch. Nice body work early from Hayemaker. Chisora comes back with a nice right hook.
22.05The crowd are clearly behind Haye.
22.03So, the fence has been taken away and they go toe to toe, but not quite like they did in Munich. There is a referee this time, and no camera tripods... at least, not in the ring...
22.02Haye looks focused.
22.01Using similar tactics to the ones employed against Wladimir Klitschko. He is delaying his emergence from the dressing room. When he finally does appear, he is met by loud cheers. Wonder who the crowd are supporting... ?
21.59Here comes David Haye. As per usual, there ain't no stopping him now...
21.58Chisora's walk-on music is the theme from Gladiator.
21.57Here comes Del Boy, with his new half-Union Jack, half-Zimbabwe face-erchief. Michael Buffer is announcing the fighters tonight, despite there being a title fight in Las Vegas. Incidently, you can follow Amir Khan right here on Sports Mole.
21.50Ronnie O'Sullivan (ringside): "Fantastic atmosphere, the rain adds to that. I think the fight is evenly matched, but you have to say David Haye is the slight favourite. David Haye in seven or eight rounds, that's my guess."
21.48Frank Warren is reportedly handing out plastic macs to the fans due to the rain, which is absolutely chucking down now.
21.41George Groves: "David's in phenomenal condition. David Haye will try to take centre of the ring. Chisora doesn't do anything particularly clever, he tries to get the momentum going. I think if Chisora walks onto one, he's in trouble."
21.36Dynamo: "I think there's gonna be a stoppage. I think someone's going down" - well, there you have it. He can tell the future too, right? That's one of his skills?
21.35The magician Dynamo is also at ringside, bending his little finger. Obviously it's a trick, he's not really there...
21.34The heavens have opened at Upton Park.
21.27Meanwhile, Liam Walsh has won his fight against Domenico Urbano. Referee Micky Vann stepped when he thought that the Italian was taking too much punishment. I think he could have taken a little bit more...
21.25Chisora is, understandably, seen as the underdog in this fight. Plenty offering their support to Haye.
21.19Even Ricky Gervais, one-time foe of Grant Bovey (Anthea Turner's husband) has passed on his pre-fight message to Haye.
21.15Twitter: @ChrisEubankJr Chisora is going to receive a strong boxing lesson tonight. If I was a betting man id say Haye will stop him in under 7 rounds
21.09The sporting world are voices their opinions via the medium of Twitter. What did we do before it, eh?
21.08Michael Owen (Twitter): @themichaelowen Haye KO and Khan to win by KO for me
21.05Joe Calzaghe (Twitter): @RealJoeCalzaghe I'm going for a HAYE KO and Khan points tonight
20.41So it's just over an hour until the first bell. The stadium is filling up nicely and everyone is getting excited for the fight.
20.35Andy Murray: "I started training again today and I'm getting ready for the Olympics. I've met David Haye a few times and he invited me over tonight. I think David will win, but with heavyweight boxing, you never know." - he thinks it's going to points.
20.27In the night's opening fight, Ireland's Gary O'Sullivan has beaten Manchester's Matthew Hall with a unanimous verdict. He wins the WBO international middleweight title.
20.09He seems in good spirits following last week's disappointment.
20.04Andy Murray is at ringside tonight and there are a few boos when he waves to the camera. Hmm...
19.45David Haye enters the arena. Ringwalks are expected at 9:45pm.
19.34Of course, Chisora will have the same incentive, as well as trying to prove that he belongs with the big boys. Defeats to Vitali, Robert Helenius and Tyson Fury do suggest that he will have his hands full against Haye tonight.
19.33It is understood that Vitali's next fight will be his last. But if it is David Haye barking up his tree, could he resist not trying to plant one on his chain? Maybe, maybe not.
19.29Love him or loathe him, David Haye is a fine boxer. He could be looking to earn a fight with either of the Klitschko brothers, to add extra incentive.
19.24Warren: "It's a fight that the fans want to see, and hopefully it will be settled tonight in the ring."
19.23Warren: "We've got blue skies at the moment, and hopefully the sun will shine on the righteous winner."
19.23Warren: "We're gonna have 30,000 people here. I think we could have had 38,000 had all this bad rain been happening."
19.22Warren: "It's been an exciting and bumpy ride, but we've got here to, probably, our biggest show [on BoxNation] yet."
19.20Let me give you a few words from Frank Warren, who brought this bout together...
19.19All that has brought us to today, where they will enter the ring in front of 30,000 fans.
19.18Suffice to say, that did not go down well with the German police, who detained Chisora at the airport for questioning.
19.17He suffered a broken jaw after he had attacked Haye. Then, in front of a stunned press room, Chisora shouted "I'm going to physically shoot David Haye"
19.16In the ensuing chaos, Haye's trainer Adam Booth suffered a cut to his head after his fighter had accidentally struck him with a camera tripod. Chisora's trainer, Don Charles, was not without injury, either...
19.15After a bit of verbal jousting, Chisora got up off his seat and marched towards Haye, taking off his jacket. Haye landed a punch square on Chisora's chin, which kicked off a melee.
19.13Chisora, taking offence to Haye stealing his limelight, then waded into the row that was erupting between Haye and Klitschko's manager, Bernd Boente.
19.09It all started following Chisora's defeat to Vitali Klitschko. David Haye, on punditry duty, gatecrashed the post-fight press conference in the hope of engineering a bout with the Ukrainian.
19.07I'm sure that there is no need to remind you of the events over the past couple of months. If there is need to remind you, these two guys DO NOT like each other.
19.02Well, the mudslinging is nearly at an end. David Haye and Dereck Chisora will settle their score at Upton PArk tonight in one of the most eagerly-anticipated domestic bouts in recents times.
Written by
Michael Penkman
Michael Penkman
