David Haye "I lied, I let people down"

[Controversial]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/gene ... 97558.html (Thursday 5th June 2014)

Talking about the Klitschko fight

This, so Haye finally admits, is the real reason why the Klitschko fight in July 2011, went so horribly wrong. He entered the ring having goaded his erudite opponent with T-shirts depicting the severed heads of Wladimir and his brother Vitali, and left citing a broken toe as the reason behind his limp display to face a British boxing public who turned on him.

"I failed that night," he concedes. "I let a lot of people down, including myself. I betrayed the trust and belief I had obtained from so many people. I lied to them all."

I suggest he has been hard on himself. Klitschko, after all, has reigned as world heavyweight champion for 10 years.

"No, no. It's the truth," he responds. "I urged people to believe in me and to back me. They spent hard-earned money because I said I would win. I didn't even get close."

Why was that? "My training was wrong. I've got away with carrying minor injuries in the past. I've found a way to win. The problem is I'm sparring with bigger, stronger guys than me as I have to do. Before Klitschko I obtained niggling injuries in the process of a constant pounding and was in far from optimum shape to face a guy who you have to knock out to win in Germany. That's not an excuse. It's a problem I created. I wasn't at my best but, then again, Wladimir might not have been either. It's gone."

On his comeback

Until now. Haye is back in training, his shoulder is fine, and he has set himself a goal. "I want to become world heavyweight champion again," he says without batting an eyelid. "There's no other point in doing this."

Is this feasible? "Yes, because my trainer, Adam Booth, and I have analysed why I was so injury-prone and we believe, with the disadvantages I have as a small heavyweight, we have a training programme designed to minimise the risk.

"It means instead of fighting once every 18 months I'll be looking to box three times a year, move up the rankings and fight for the title within two years."

This cannot include a defeat, of course. "No, that would be it. But I've broken through the apprehension of punching after surgery and I'm giving it my best shot. Succeed or not, I'm not going to die wondering."

Fighting the winner of Fury and Chisora?

What of reports that he may fight the winner of Fury versus Chisora, who meet next month? "Not interested. I've beaten Chisora already and I'd take more satisfaction in knowing I'll deprive Fury of a £5m payday than if I knocked him out, which I would."


On becoming a vegan 6 months ago

"I watched a TV documentary about how animals are farmed, killed and prepared for us to eat," he explains, shaking his head. "I saw all those cows and pigs and realised I couldn't be a part of it any more. It was horrible. I did some research to make sure I could still obtain enough protein to fight and, once satisfied that I could, I stopped. I'll never go back."


On his injured shoulder

He is relieved just to be able to use his knife in his right hand. For much longer than he envisaged following the shoulder surgery – the first time he had ever been operated on in his life – he could do next to nothing.

"I couldn't tie my shoelaces, wash my left armpit, clean my teeth, hell, wipe my arse. I am very right-hand dominated and it was tough to change everything. There were many times when I couldn't even lie down on my bed.

"When the doctors said I wouldn't be able to fight again everyone automatically retired me. But I never said anything. I was determined to prove people wrong, like I have been all my life.

[Syntax Error]

It's nice to finally hear the truth from Haye.

My only concern is that shoulder injury.

From the sounds of it, it sounds pretty bad.

I'm sceptical that he can come back & be the same force again, especially as the problem is probably borne out of the fact that he has spent many a year punching much bigger men.

Only time will tell I suppose.

[Controversial]

Yep I wonder how his arm will hold up. I've never been one of those who thought he made the injury up to avoid Fury (of all people) and years and years of fighting, training and taking punishment takes it toll on everyone, some people are just more injury prone than others.

He is still young in heavyweight terms and has good speed and power so it will be interesting to see what happens. At least it sounds like he is taking it more serious now.

[expe]

Not buying it for a second, he doesn't care that people wasted their money, he's just trying to sell a comeback.

[Datsue]

"I lost in the past due to fighting with injuries. But now, after suffering the worst injury of my career, I am so totally not going to lose due to fighting with injuries."



Nice one, Dave.

[Yes We Can]

Haye has never fought 3 times a year, if he starts now I'll be amazed if he isn't even more injury prone.

[deadpan]

Vegan? I'm pleasantly surprised. He doesn't look much of an animal lover at 6.20 here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR1LgvSUwIk

Almost Patridgesque in his lack of self awareness there.

[Andrew]

Was he f*ck injured for the Charr fight.

Just like he was injured when he was first signed to fight Wlad.

[n1ebf]

Never been much of a fan of his tbh, however, saying you'll beat somebody and then losing isn't lying to anybody! If you know something and say otherwise, that's telling lies. You can't know you're going to beat Klitschko....unless he means he never thought he had a chance before he went in.

Regarding the meat thing - that's an admirable stance. That's not an easy thing to do and I wouldn't be surprised if this bloke gets spotted in McDonalds or Nandos before the year's out. Good luck to him tho if he's giving it a genuine go

[mullenman]

class fighter and i hope he comes back with a bang

[pyenest77]

A load of empty words off Haye to kick start the next phase of his career & to dupe people into buying tickets for his 3 fights a year!

[Roars Like Me]

Was he f*ck injured for the Charr fight.

Just like he was injured when he was first signed to fight Wlad.

I was confident of Haye winning that fight. Seeing Charr lately justfies it so not really an issue

[lefty]

Haye is 33 now so if anything his injury situation is probably going to get worse and also how's he gonna be fighting more now than before with his advancing age? Seems like absolute bollocks.

[bripez]

Not buying it for a second, he doesn't care that people wasted their money, he's just trying to sell a comeback.

I agree with this.

[Sklar]

It seems it's very trendy to be a vegan at the moment. Maybe because it's also trendy to be gay?

Haye is a top fighter, he gets slagged off way to much. I don't buy into all his injuries but I do buy into most of them and having seen footage of him training there's no wonder he's so susceptible. Some of the stuff he does is daft, IMO. I'm glad he's coming back, I wish it was at cruiser but heavy will do. All the best to him.

[lefty]

It seems it's very trendy to be a vegan at the moment. Maybe because it's also trendy to be gay?

Haye is a top fighter, he gets slagged off way to much. I don't buy into all his injuries but I do buy into most of them and having seen footage of him training there's no wonder he's so susceptible. Some of the stuff he does is daft, IMO. I'm glad he's coming back, I wish it was at cruiser but heavy will do. All the best to him.

Was a top fighter. We dont really know what he is now with the injury situation. You only have to look at martinez to see how much that can ruin things.

[Sklar]

Fair point but I personally don't think Haye would have any real dramas against any of the <6'3" heavyweights.

[lefty]

I tend to agree. I guess it will all depend on how it effects his power which along with his speed were his biggest assets.

[Sklar]

I'd like to see him pursue Stiverne, that would be agood fight that would end with a bang.

[Horse]

I was confident of Haye winning that fight. Seeing Charr lately justfies it so not really an issue

Most people were confident that he'd beat Charr. That doesn't justify messing him about.

[Roars Like Me]

I was confident of Haye winning that fight. Seeing Charr lately justfies it so not really an issue

Most people were confident that he'd beat Charr. That doesn't justify messing him about.

Being injured isn't messing anybody about?

[Horse]

Being injured isn't messing anybody about?

He was injured? I wouldn't take Haye's word for it.

[Controversial]

I really don't understand why people think Haye deliberately pulled out of fights claiming fake injuries, what does he gain from doing it? For the Fury fight not only did Haye lose the purse money he also had to pay for his training, sparring partners etc..., if anything it cost him money. Same for the Charr fight, Charr isn't anything special, Haye would've flattened him anyway so not sure why he would sign to fight him and then pull out for no reason.

[stujones]

How about Haye vs Browne on his comeback. With that he'll get a WBA ranking.

If he wanted to be a bit more cruel he could fight 43 year old Javo Pudar - he's WBA ranked.

Then fight the winner of Oquendo vs Chagaev and he's got his old title back.

[Horse]

How about Haye vs Browne on his comeback. With that he'll get a WBA ranking.

If he wanted to be a bit more cruel he could fight 43 year old Javo Pudar - he's WBA ranked.

How about Antonio Tarver?