12th May 2012
Dear Mr Smith,
I
refer to the press release which you issued earlier this week in which
you state that any member of the British Boxing Board of Control who
participates in the Haye v. Chisora fight “will be deemed to have
terminated” both his membership of your Board and his licence. As you
know I am Dereck Chisora’s manager and even if I am not at the fight I
will be ‘participating’ in accordance with your definition of this word
in the press release.
refer to the press release which you issued earlier this week in which
you state that any member of the British Boxing Board of Control who
participates in the Haye v. Chisora fight “will be deemed to have
terminated” both his membership of your Board and his licence. As you
know I am Dereck Chisora’s manager and even if I am not at the fight I
will be ‘participating’ in accordance with your definition of this word
in the press release.
I
write to make two complaints about your press release. The first is
that there are no substantive grounds to revoke my licence and the
second is that you have not properly complied with any procedural
requirements.
write to make two complaints about your press release. The first is
that there are no substantive grounds to revoke my licence and the
second is that you have not properly complied with any procedural
requirements.
Substantive Grounds
Under
Rule 4.12 of your own Rules and Regulations, as a licence holder I can
participate “(a) in or at a Promotion which is licensed by the BBBofC;
or (b) in or at a Promotion organised by a Federation, Commission,
Association or Controlling Authority affiliated to, or recognised by the
BBBofC”. The Federation Luxembourgoise De Boxe is a Federation
affiliated to and recognised by the Board; both are affiliated to the
EBU. As that Federation is sanctioning the Haye v. Chisora fight, my
participation is not a breach of your Rules.
Under
Rule 4.12 of your own Rules and Regulations, as a licence holder I can
participate “(a) in or at a Promotion which is licensed by the BBBofC;
or (b) in or at a Promotion organised by a Federation, Commission,
Association or Controlling Authority affiliated to, or recognised by the
BBBofC”. The Federation Luxembourgoise De Boxe is a Federation
affiliated to and recognised by the Board; both are affiliated to the
EBU. As that Federation is sanctioning the Haye v. Chisora fight, my
participation is not a breach of your Rules.
You
have not communicated your complaint to me at all, but in the press
statement your concern appears to be that a member who participates in
the Haye v. Chisora fight would “bring the sport of boxing into
disrepute”. As I say, were the Board to really consider that I was
bringing the sport into disrepute then I would expect you to have set
out the charges against me by letter and with a level of particularity.
have not communicated your complaint to me at all, but in the press
statement your concern appears to be that a member who participates in
the Haye v. Chisora fight would “bring the sport of boxing into
disrepute”. As I say, were the Board to really consider that I was
bringing the sport into disrepute then I would expect you to have set
out the charges against me by letter and with a level of particularity.
I cannot see how I can be bringing boxing into disrepute for the following reasons (which list is not exhaustive):
* It
cannot be because the fight is unlicensed, because it is licensed by a
Federation older than the Board, affiliated to the EBU and which has the
same medical provisions, testing, safety provisions and insurance as
the Board;
cannot be because the fight is unlicensed, because it is licensed by a
Federation older than the Board, affiliated to the EBU and which has the
same medical provisions, testing, safety provisions and insurance as
the Board;
* It
cannot be because David Haye is fighting and is not licensed by the
Board. If this were the case, you would object to almost every fight
taking place overseas. Indeed, I note that the Board has not complained
that the WBA is bringing the sport into disrepute, despite that
organisation licensing Mayweather’s fight even though he has a
conviction for domestic violence;
cannot be because David Haye is fighting and is not licensed by the
Board. If this were the case, you would object to almost every fight
taking place overseas. Indeed, I note that the Board has not complained
that the WBA is bringing the sport into disrepute, despite that
organisation licensing Mayweather’s fight even though he has a
conviction for domestic violence;
* It
cannot be because Dereck Chisora is not licensed by the Board, for the
reasons above. Also, if the Board did consider that Mr Chisora should
not fight again, it would have banned him for life. Instead it withdrew
his licence but invited him to apply for a licence with the Board or
with another sanctioning body when he wished to do so;
cannot be because Dereck Chisora is not licensed by the Board, for the
reasons above. Also, if the Board did consider that Mr Chisora should
not fight again, it would have banned him for life. Instead it withdrew
his licence but invited him to apply for a licence with the Board or
with another sanctioning body when he wished to do so;
* It
cannot be because of safety reasons. Not just because the Federation
has the same procedures as the Board, but also because the Board took no
sanction against Promoter Barry Hearn after he ignored the Board’s
refusal to grant Julian Jackson a licence to fight in the UK against
Herol Graham and staged the fight in Spain. Indeed, the Board supplied
officials for that fight and gained financially. Further, whilst the
Board has been found guilty of negligence (in relation to Michael
Watson), the Federation has had no such decisions against it;
cannot be because of safety reasons. Not just because the Federation
has the same procedures as the Board, but also because the Board took no
sanction against Promoter Barry Hearn after he ignored the Board’s
refusal to grant Julian Jackson a licence to fight in the UK against
Herol Graham and staged the fight in Spain. Indeed, the Board supplied
officials for that fight and gained financially. Further, whilst the
Board has been found guilty of negligence (in relation to Michael
Watson), the Federation has had no such decisions against it;
*It
cannot be because there is a fight sanctioned in the UK by the
Luxembourg Federation. This is because the Board has licensed fights in
other jurisdictions, as have many other Federations and Associations
and because of the principle of free trade across Europe.
cannot be because there is a fight sanctioned in the UK by the
Luxembourg Federation. This is because the Board has licensed fights in
other jurisdictions, as have many other Federations and Associations
and because of the principle of free trade across Europe.
Procedural Grounds
If
in fact you really did consider that I, a licensee, is guilty of
misconduct because of my ‘participation’ in the Haye v. Chisora fight,
then you need still to comply with Rule 25. The Board would need to
send me a formal complaint and require me to answer it and attend before
the Board. You have not done so.
If
in fact you really did consider that I, a licensee, is guilty of
misconduct because of my ‘participation’ in the Haye v. Chisora fight,
then you need still to comply with Rule 25. The Board would need to
send me a formal complaint and require me to answer it and attend before
the Board. You have not done so.
My Complaint
My
concern is that by issuing the threat contained in your press release
you are trying to stop me from being involved in a legitimate and lawful
fight governed by another Federation and to interfere with my freedom
to work and to earn a living. I am worried that you have taken this
decision not because you are really concerned about the fight (for the
reasons I set out above) but because you are fearful that you will lose
your monopoly in the UK.
My
concern is that by issuing the threat contained in your press release
you are trying to stop me from being involved in a legitimate and lawful
fight governed by another Federation and to interfere with my freedom
to work and to earn a living. I am worried that you have taken this
decision not because you are really concerned about the fight (for the
reasons I set out above) but because you are fearful that you will lose
your monopoly in the UK.
I
require written confirmation that you will not seek to take away my
licence if I remain Dereck Chisora’s manager. As you have catapulted
this issue into the press, then I consider it is reasonable for me to
seek your confirmation by close of business on Wednesday 16 May 2012.
If I do not receive your confirmation then you will receive a formal
complaint from my solicitors followed by proceedings (including
injunctive relief should they consider it necessary and appropriate).
Of course there may well be issues of costs and damages associated with
your actions and I put you on notice that I will be seeking these also
if so advised.
require written confirmation that you will not seek to take away my
licence if I remain Dereck Chisora’s manager. As you have catapulted
this issue into the press, then I consider it is reasonable for me to
seek your confirmation by close of business on Wednesday 16 May 2012.
If I do not receive your confirmation then you will receive a formal
complaint from my solicitors followed by proceedings (including
injunctive relief should they consider it necessary and appropriate).
Of course there may well be issues of costs and damages associated with
your actions and I put you on notice that I will be seeking these also
if so advised.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind Regards,
Frank
Frank
courtesy of www.frankwarren.com
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