IT IS NOT ALL CHISORA'S FAULT. YOU CAN BLAME THE DOMINOES ...

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We all need respect and encouragement.  Respect as a fellow human being and encouragement in what we do. You have to admit we have a right to expect these complements.  That is not to say that we must behave foolishly if they are not forthcoming. Were we to do so, we would be behaving as selfish and mean spirited as our fellow men/women who have withheld them in the first place.

Chisora put up a good fight against Vitali on Saturday night.  Arguably a better one than David Haye against Wladimir  last year.

Pre fight, Chisora was shamefully rude to both  Klitschko brothers.  To their credit both brothers turned the other cheek.  Enormous respect must be paid to both brothers, because we all know that they could have torn strips off of Chisora -- together and singularly.  Literally. They didn't.

I believe that both before and after the bout, that both Lennox Lewis and David Haye behaved abominably to the young and inexperienced Chisora.  Both men are heroes of mine -- and probably of Chisora. They could have both encouraged and chastised the younger Chisora in private, rather than goading him in the eyes of the entire world.  Their actions were un-brotherly, unbecoming and suggested the old African/Caribbean disharmony.  Of course, I am not suggesting it.  I am merely hinting at an appearance of it.

Before the fight, Lewis 'slammed Dereck Chisora's world heavyweight title challenge with Vitali Klitschko as a "mismatch" and should not be taking place."   That is according to David Smith, Boxing Correspondent of the London Evening Standard, p62, Friday 17th February.  If you watched the entire fight on Saturday night however, you would have seen that it was no mismatch.

That aside, I feel that Lewis might have called up Chisora, give him any tips he thought would help; and allow Chisora to ask his advice.  That is how it was done in earlier times, when boxers got paid less, when  boxers genuinely cared for their fellow boxers from whichever continent they came: Examples, Louis and Schmeling, Bugner and Frazier, Muhammad Ali and every body.

I expected the same of David Haye.  There is no denying that both Lewis and Haye are gentle men and possess far greater boxing craft and charisma than Chisora.  These elements can be learnt and added to any youthful cad's armoury.  It could be that they withheld their advice and friendship, because they may have heard that the younger Chisora is somewhat belligerent. But wouldn't they have served him better by getting to him before hand and helping  him.  I mean, seriously; is it not fair to think, that of all the advice out there, Chisora would certainly have valued any  from Lewis and Haye most?

But still the black community complains when we are rightly told that only with an united front can we progress.  Progress? We don't even acknowledge one another in the streets anymore.


Charging Chisora form his boxing purse would not be as effective as having him planting a few tress in the parks and generally mellowing with youngsters while they work together.  After the tree planting the adults turn. Here a lovely mixture of African and West Indian meal, including plantain and rice, swallow down with West Indian Stout and African Guinness could be enjoyed. The boxers three, along with Haye's brilliant trainer Adam Booth  can then play a few games of dominoes.  A game of dominoes, with white spots on black thin blocks banged loudly on table, always does the trick of uniting Africans and West Indians, ancient friends -- or brashful young cads with experience adults. I mean, always!

That would bring Chisora back with all the ingredients he lacks to become a champion boxer.  For I believe that deep down he was born with something darker within, than either Lewis or Haye.  A kind of merciless  rage which wanes only when he puts his opponent out.  A kind rage which must only be uses in the boxing ring.  And even then with intelligence.

Of course, The real heroes throughout this tragedy -- yes, tragedy, is Klitschko. Wladimir and Vitali.   They are devoted to one another. They are strong as oxen.  They have been the world's best two heavyweight boxers over the past decade. Yet, they refused to respond when Chisora was plainly rude and deliberately disrespectful towards them. Instead each brother, on each occasion behaved supremely dignified.  Therein are positive messages for us lesser mortals: Family comes first. Do not respond to rudeness, this way everyone will always remember who is rude -- and who has dignity. And lest we forget, in the fight that really mattered, Chisora lost to Vitali.

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