Fighters end dispute after Haye wins grudge match against Chisora
David Haye and Dereck Chisora declared their feud was over after settling their differences in five breathless rounds at Upton Park.
Haye stopped his sworn enemy in the fifth with a hurtful left hook the decisive punch, sending Chisora to the canvas for the first time in his career.
Five months ago in Munich the rivals brawled at a press conference in scenes that disgraced British boxing, but they hugged after sharing a thrilling fight.
"Any damage that was done by our altercation in Munich is well and truly fixed now," Haye said.
"People said that was a black eye for boxing, well the bags have gone from boxing's eyes now.
"The crowd have gone home happy with a smile on their face. That's the bottom line.
"Whatever beef I had with Dereck before the fight is over now from my side and I hope it's vice versa.
"After sharing a ring with Dereck I have a new found respect for the man.
"I had respect for his boxing ability but I never believed he could be as good as he was tonight. He raised his game.
"He said to me before the fight 'you'd better bring it' and I was 'yeah right'. I'm glad I did because otherwise it would have gone pair-shaped.
"If I turned up in the same condition as I was for John Ruiz, there's a good chance I'd have lost the fight.
"When you get guys who are similar in size, are willing to put it on the line and throw massive shots, it only helps boxing
"I'm glad the event went as smoothly as it did. All of the negative press before the fight, everyone can eat their words now."
Chisora, who was rescued by referee Luis Pabon after the second knockdown, trailed on all three scorecards - 39-37, 39-37, 40-36 - when the fight was stopped.
The 28-year-old, whose pressure style gave Haye problems, agreed their dispute was over and pledged to honour their bet that the loser would donate £20,000 from their purse to the charity of the winner's choice, in this case the Afro-Caribbean Leukaemia Trust.
"The beef is over for me as well....now we can eat in the same restaurants and go in the same clubs. After the fight we made up," Chisora said.
"It was a great fight and everything is done. Now I'm £20,000 down, but a bet is a bet.
"I enjoyed the fight, it was a great fight and both of us came to fight. I drew the short straw."
Frank Warren, Chisora's manager, agreed the reputation of boxing had been restored by events at Upton Park.
"Boxing has redeemed itself and there was respect shown by both boxers after the fight," he said.
"These guys are fighters and it was important to let them do what boxers do - sort their problems out in the ring.
"The atmosphere was fantastic, the crowd went home happy and this was a great night for British boxing."
