David Haye: I fled Germany because of Dereck Chisora's death threats

David Haye insists he fled Germany in the early hours of Sunday morning because of death threats from Dereck Chisora, who said he would "shoot and burn" his fellow Briton.

Speaking for the first time since the post-fight brawl, Haye said he left Germany because he believed Chisora's threats were credible. German police were unable to speak to Haye, and had contacted Scotland Yard to help trace his whereabouts.

"I heard Chisora say he planned to 'shoot me dead'. I decided to leave the venue and return to my hotel, a move which I hoped would diffuse the situation. However, Chisora's team were staying at the same hotel as me and, in light of the threats Chisora had made in front of the world's media, it seemed far more appropriate for me and Adam to leave the hotel as quickly as possible.

"Consequently, I left Munich on an earlier flight on Sunday morning and have been thinking about what happened ever since, as well as replaying the incident many times via YouTube. It goes without saying, I am bitterly disappointed to have been a part of what transpired on Saturday evening.

Haye agreed that he will assist the German authorities in their investigations.

"I realise I am no angel - and don't mind a bit of professional trash-talk to help raise boxing's profile - but, during my 21 years in the sport, I have never been involved in, or even witnessed, such a serious fracas. If requested, I shall happily assist the boxing authorities with any investigation they wish to launch and, ultimately, hope that all lessons learned from this incident will be implemented"