by Alan McGuinness

Top boxing referee Ian John-Lewis has branded the brawl between Dereck Chisora and David Haye as “embarrassing” for the sport.

The world-class official from Gillingham, who has refereed bouts involving both fighters, said the incident had got people talking about the sport for all the wrong reasons.

The pair squared up to each other at a post-fight press conference following Chisora’s loss to WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko on in Munich, Germany, on Saturday.

Chisora and his trainer Don Charles were arrested at the city’s airport and released yesterday evening (Sunday).

Prosecutors say Haye left the country on a plane before he could be questioned.

John-Lewis, who works as a custody officer at Medway police station, said he was once pushed by Chisora during one of the fighter’s first bouts.

He said: “It’s absolutely terrible. It’s nice to have a bit of banter and psyching out but that’s it – that’s as far as it goes.

“There’s a point you don’t go beyond. They’ve gone over the edge.”

The British Boxing Board of Control is yet to decide what punishment to give the pair, who could face life bans from the sport.