David Haye Willing To Come Out Of Retirement For Joshua-Fury Winner

Former heavyweight champion David Haye admits he’d be willing to end his retirement to face the winner of Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury.

Haye hung up his gloves in 2018 after suffering back-to-back defeats against bitter rival Tony Bellew. The 39-year-old had also been struggling with serious and persistent injuries throughout the latter parts of his career.

Speaking to Behind The Gloves Haye was asked if he would ever consider returning to boxing, he said. “The only one that I would do it for is the winner of AJ and Tyson Fury because that would be #1 vs. #1. That’s probably the only one, but not really. It’s a lot to go through.

“I got my body in a good place right now, and I’m in a good place. All my injuries have healed up. There’s been no hardcore training. I’ve been at home with my weights. Normally, when you train for a fight, you’ve got to put your body through it. If you want to knockout big guys and have a chance of winning against giants, you’ve got to sacrifice and put your body through it.”

Haye realises that even on his best day he may struggle to beat Joshua or Fury, but it is that challenge that could well drag him out of retirement, he said.

“I remember watching Anthony Joshua when he [recently] fought Andy Ruiz, and I thought, ‘Damn, that would be very, very difficult to beat,’” said Haye. “Even on my best day, that version of him [Joshua] that is boxing, and light on his feet, he’s ready and fearful as well,’ that’s hard to beat.

“I thought the same thing when I saw Tyson Fury fight Wilder. I’m watching, and I’m like, ‘That guy [Fury] is a hard guy to beat.’ So those are the two performances I’ve seen since I’ve been retired where I watched it and gone, ‘That would have been a hard work, no matter what version of me that was.’

“Them guys are big, they’re strong, and they’re in their prime. That version of AJ and that version of Tyson Fury, for any heavyweight in history, would have been a hard, hard night. It’s nice to see the sport evolving. The big guys are in shape, they’re athletic, and coming back and throwing plenty of punches. (Transcribed by BoxingNews24)

Would you like to see David Haye return to the ring to face either Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury?