Should Haye have pulled out of the fight??

[punchoutsb]

Obviously he knew he was injured but believed he could still win regardless; with that in mind I think he made the only decision he could. Another pull out may have ended his career. This injury may end it too, but at least this way he got paid. Very tricky situation.

[rd350lc]

He didn't look injured before the injury.

Are you trolling mate?

He went to a Munich clinic three days before the fight. Rumours were everywhere, including this forum, that it was his achilles which was damaged. He walked into the ring gingerly (as seen on the iFL video below) with flat feet, bit of a limp and walking carefully to ensure his heel did not hit the floor first.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-iXTgtqc0E&t=22s

Ha, if Haye thought he got stick over the toe injury, imagine what he'd have got if he'd have done his Achilles just walking to the ring

Very odd ringwalk that took an age . Only thing I don't understand is why his leg wasn't strapped up in the dressing room ?

[bigped]

Are you trolling mate?

He went to a Munich clinic three days before the fight. Rumours were everywhere, including this forum, that it was his achilles which was damaged. He walked into the ring gingerly (as seen on the iFL video below) with flat feet, bit of a limp and walking carefully to ensure his heel did not hit the floor first.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-iXTgtqc0E&t=22s

Ha, if Haye thought he got stick over the toe injury, imagine what he'd have got if he'd have done his Achilles just walking to the ring

Very odd ringwalk that took an age . Only thing I don't understand is why his leg wasn't strapped up in the dressing room ?

Have heard he got an injection into it prefight mate so maybe thought he wouldn't needs strapped up

[Syntax Error]

Yes it seems pretty obvious now that he hadid some sort of problem going in. Was pretty stupid of him bouncing up and down on the spot like he did just before it went. That's the maximal force you can put through the tendon.

Haye made a rod for his own back.

He's pulled out of fights & cried wolf so many times that he had no option to go through with it this time, and this is probably the one time he should have pulled out.

He didn't even mention his injuries during the post fight interview, which was the total opposite to when he lost to Wladimir; he couldn't wait to flash his toe to the world.

Haye might have done himself massive damage that he could struggle to come back from.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Ha, if Haye thought he got stick over the toe injury, imagine what he'd have got if he'd have done his Achilles just walking to the ring

Very odd ringwalk that took an age . Only thing I don't understand is why his leg wasn't strapped up in the dressing room ?

Have heard he got an injection into it prefight mate so maybe thought he wouldn't needs strapped up

You can see even there that the right foot is being carried at a very extreme angle to avoid putting weight on the achilles.

[PredatorHayds]

He had no option but to go through with it.

Managed to save his reputation with hardcore boxing fans who clearly recognise he lost through injury.

His pride must of taken a battering though. He clearly feels a couple of levels above Boomer.

[leejonesjnr]

It does seem like the injury was there pre contest.
I imagine that with all the 'he doesn't know the depths I will go to' talk from Bellew, David expected a fight and therefor a straightforward KO which he could manage even with limited mobility.
As it turned out, the 'depths' Bellew was willing to go to were at the shallow end and he more or less stood out of reach whilst Haye fought gravity.
I don't think this will affect how boxing remembers Haye in the years to come. Does anyone think less of SRL for losing to Camacho?
It does seem strange that they didn't opt to strap the foot up and conceal/protect it with higher, more supportive boots. I suppose it could be that higher boots aggravated the injury?

[jamesmcdonnell]

It does seem like the injury was there pre contest.
I imagine that with all the 'he doesn't know the depths I will go to' talk from Bellew, David expected a fight and therefor a straightforward KO which he could manage even with limited mobility.
As it turned out, the 'depths' Bellew was willing to go to were at the shallow end and he more or less stood out of reach whilst Haye fought gravity.
I don't think this will affect how boxing remembers Haye in the years to come. Does anyone think less of SRL for losing to Camacho?
It does seem strange that they didn't opt to strap the foot up and conceal/protect it with higher, more supportive boots. I suppose it could be that higher boots aggravated the injury?

Strapping would have made no difference. The achilles controls the flexion of the foot, pulling the heel down, and the toes up. No strapping is going to make that any better. Strapping only helps with ankle injuries where you want to stop it rolling inward or outward.

[leejonesjnr]

It does seem like the injury was there pre contest.
I imagine that with all the 'he doesn't know the depths I will go to' talk from Bellew, David expected a fight and therefor a straightforward KO which he could manage even with limited mobility.
As it turned out, the 'depths' Bellew was willing to go to were at the shallow end and he more or less stood out of reach whilst Haye fought gravity.
I don't think this will affect how boxing remembers Haye in the years to come. Does anyone think less of SRL for losing to Camacho?
It does seem strange that they didn't opt to strap the foot up and conceal/protect it with higher, more supportive boots. I suppose it could be that higher boots aggravated the injury?

Strapping would have made no difference. The achilles controls the flexion of the foot, pulling the heel down, and the toes up. No strapping is going to make that any better. Strapping only helps with ankle injuries where you want to stop it rolling inward or outward.

Perhaps that is the case, I have no idea, however as the corner tried to tape up the foot mid fight, they have no idea either so its still odd that they didn't do it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

We all suspected he was injured, although we didn't know the full extent of the injury. Turns out he had a pretty bad achilles injury. He was flat footed and very limited in terms of movement. When it went he got pasted and embarrassed by Bellew. He has to live with that.

I honestly think he should have pulled out. He's completely done his career, reputation and pride by getting a pasting from a guy he would clearly have beaten if injury free.

I'm sure the 4 million quid credited to his account this morning was a big factor in his decision.

If anything, he earned respect, he hasn't done his career or reputation.

[leejonesjnr]

We all suspected he was injured, although we didn't know the full extent of the injury. Turns out he had a pretty bad achilles injury. He was flat footed and very limited in terms of movement. When it went he got pasted and embarrassed by Bellew. He has to live with that.

I honestly think he should have pulled out. He's completely done his career, reputation and pride by getting a pasting from a guy he would clearly have beaten if injury free.

I'm sure the 4 million quid credited to his account this morning was a big factor in his decision.

If anything, he earned respect, he hasn't done his career or reputation.

Also - he didn't get a pasting did he.

[Ruthless-RKO]

We all suspected he was injured, although we didn't know the full extent of the injury. Turns out he had a pretty bad achilles injury. He was flat footed and very limited in terms of movement. When it went he got pasted and embarrassed by Bellew. He has to live with that.

I honestly think he should have pulled out. He's completely done his career, reputation and pride by getting a pasting from a guy he would clearly have beaten if injury free.

I'm sure the 4 million quid credited to his account this morning was a big factor in his decision.

If anything, he earned respect, he hasn't done his career or reputation.

Also - he didn't get a pasting did he.

Also.. it probably did more damage to Bellew, because he couldn't finish a injured fighter, gassing himself out in the 6th round.

If he caused the injury that eventually forced the stoppage, then fair play.. but he never.

[Ruthless-RKO]

He had no option but to go through with it.

Managed to save his reputation with hardcore boxing fans who clearly recognise he lost through injury.

His pride must of taken a battering though. He clearly feels a couple of levels above Boomer.

Definitely..

and he doesn't need to feel anything, he probably knows.. just like anyone else.

[jamesmcdonnell]

We all suspected he was injured, although we didn't know the full extent of the injury. Turns out he had a pretty bad achilles injury. He was flat footed and very limited in terms of movement. When it went he got pasted and embarrassed by Bellew. He has to live with that.

I honestly think he should have pulled out. He's completely done his career, reputation and pride by getting a pasting from a guy he would clearly have beaten if injury free.

I'm sure the 4 million quid credited to his account this morning was a big factor in his decision.

If anything, he earned respect, he hasn't done his career or reputation.

Agreed, he's enhanced his reputation MASSIVELY fighting through that.

He'll get a rematch, and if he can get into the ring 80% fit, he'll win pretty easy. It may be a points win, but I suspect he'll Bellew out of there. Bellew did very little offensively until Haye's tendon went, and even afterward didn't have it all his own way.

[Ruthless-RKO]

We all suspected he was injured, although we didn't know the full extent of the injury. Turns out he had a pretty bad achilles injury. He was flat footed and very limited in terms of movement. When it went he got pasted and embarrassed by Bellew. He has to live with that.

I honestly think he should have pulled out. He's completely done his career, reputation and pride by getting a pasting from a guy he would clearly have beaten if injury free.

I'm sure the 4 million quid credited to his account this morning was a big factor in his decision.

If anything, he earned respect, he hasn't done his career or reputation.

Agreed, he's enhanced his reputation MASSIVELY fighting through that.

He'll get a rematch, and if he can get into the ring 80% fit, he'll win pretty easy. It may be a points win, but I suspect he'll Bellew out of there. Bellew did very little offensively until Haye's tendon went, and even afterward didn't have it all his own way.

Bellew gassed out attempting to finish it in the 6th and wasn't the same either. Haye still managed to get some decent power shots in.

Chisora mentioned, Haye not quitting because his son was watching him from ringside for the very first time, think about it, had he landed that KO blow while injured, he would have been a hero.

[jamesmcdonnell]

If anything, he earned respect, he hasn't done his career or reputation.

Agreed, he's enhanced his reputation MASSIVELY fighting through that.

He'll get a rematch, and if he can get into the ring 80% fit, he'll win pretty easy. It may be a points win, but I suspect he'll Bellew out of there. Bellew did very little offensively until Haye's tendon went, and even afterward didn't have it all his own way.

Bellew gassed out attempting to finish it in the 6th and wasn't the same either. Haye still managed to get some decent power shots in.

Yeah, I actually thought Haye probably did enough to win one of the rounds after he did his leg, think it was the 9th. Amazingly Haye was coming forward at one point. The problem was he wasn't stable enough to generate any real power, so a KO was never likely.

Bellew did look tanked in the 6th. Couldn't finish the job, which really is a bit pitiful. Haye was a sitting duck. All he needed to do was string some combinations together and the ref would have stepped in.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Agreed, he's enhanced his reputation MASSIVELY fighting through that.

He'll get a rematch, and if he can get into the ring 80% fit, he'll win pretty easy. It may be a points win, but I suspect he'll Bellew out of there. Bellew did very little offensively until Haye's tendon went, and even afterward didn't have it all his own way.

Bellew gassed out attempting to finish it in the 6th and wasn't the same either. Haye still managed to get some decent power shots in.

Yeah, I actually thought Haye probably did enough to win one of the rounds after he did his leg, think it was the 9th. Amazingly Haye was coming forward at one point. The problem was he wasn't stable enough to generate any real power, so a KO was never likely.

Bellew did look tanked in the 6th. Couldn't finish the job, which really is a bit pitiful. Haye was a sitting duck. All he needed to do was string some combinations together and the ref would have stepped in.

I managed to give him 2 rounds after his ankle went. Haye did little, but still more than Bellew at some point.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Bellew gassed out attempting to finish it in the 6th and wasn't the same either. Haye still managed to get some decent power shots in.

Yeah, I actually thought Haye probably did enough to win one of the rounds after he did his leg, think it was the 9th. Amazingly Haye was coming forward at one point. The problem was he wasn't stable enough to generate any real power, so a KO was never likely.

Bellew did look tanked in the 6th. Couldn't finish the job, which really is a bit pitiful. Haye was a sitting duck. All he needed to do was string some combinations together and the ref would have stepped in.

I managed to give him 2 rounds after his ankle went. Haye did little, but still more than Bellew at some point.

Yeah, I didn't score it as such, but I think in the 7th Bellew did very little.

I wonder what the scorecards read would be interesting to see.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Yeah, I actually thought Haye probably did enough to win one of the rounds after he did his leg, think it was the 9th. Amazingly Haye was coming forward at one point. The problem was he wasn't stable enough to generate any real power, so a KO was never likely.

Bellew did look tanked in the 6th. Couldn't finish the job, which really is a bit pitiful. Haye was a sitting duck. All he needed to do was string some combinations together and the ref would have stepped in.

I managed to give him 2 rounds after his ankle went. Haye did little, but still more than Bellew at some point.

Yeah, I didn't score it as such, but I think in the 7th Bellew did very little.

I wonder what the scorecards read would be interesting to see.

I'd rather not know, probably would have been rigged.

[Dixonian]

We all suspected he was injured, although we didn't know the full extent of the injury. Turns out he had a pretty bad achilles injury. He was flat footed and very limited in terms of movement. When it went he got pasted and embarrassed by Bellew. He has to live with that.

I honestly think he should have pulled out. He's completely done his career, reputation and pride by getting a pasting from a guy he would clearly have beaten if injury free.

I'm sure the 4 million quid credited to his account this morning was a big factor in his decision.

If anything, he earned respect, he hasn't done his career or reputation.

Agreed, he's enhanced his reputation MASSIVELY fighting through that.

He'll get a rematch, and if he can get into the ring 80% fit, he'll win pretty easy. It may be a points win, but I suspect he'll Bellew out of there. Bellew did very little offensively until Haye's tendon went, and even afterward didn't have it all his own way.

Agreed. Heard Bunce talking crap about this with Mike Costello. He basically said that Haye will be remembered for this defeat (not in a good way) and that in order to make up for it he would not only have to beat Bellew in a rematch, he would need to defeat Joshua for the title and then unify the title - otherwise he would be remembered for this and only this.

What horseshit.

[jamesmcdonnell]

If anything, he earned respect, he hasn't done his career or reputation.

Agreed, he's enhanced his reputation MASSIVELY fighting through that.

He'll get a rematch, and if he can get into the ring 80% fit, he'll win pretty easy. It may be a points win, but I suspect he'll Bellew out of there. Bellew did very little offensively until Haye's tendon went, and even afterward didn't have it all his own way.

Agreed. Heard Bunce talking crap about this with Mike Costello. He basically said that Haye will be remembered for this defeat (not in a good way) and that in order to make up for it he would not only have to beat Bellew in a rematch, he would need to defeat Joshua for the title and then unify the title - otherwise he would be remembered for this and only this.

What horseshit.

Bunce needs to have a word with himself.

How is he going to achieve all that anyway, he'll be 37 by the time he's back in the ring.

Bunce will be remembered as a fat moron, if that's what he has to say.

[Dixonian]

Agreed, he's enhanced his reputation MASSIVELY fighting through that.

He'll get a rematch, and if he can get into the ring 80% fit, he'll win pretty easy. It may be a points win, but I suspect he'll Bellew out of there. Bellew did very little offensively until Haye's tendon went, and even afterward didn't have it all his own way.

Agreed. Heard Bunce talking crap about this with Mike Costello. He basically said that Haye will be remembered for this defeat (not in a good way) and that in order to make up for it he would not only have to beat Bellew in a rematch, he would need to defeat Joshua for the title and then unify the title - otherwise he would be remembered for this and only this.

What horseshit.

Bunce needs to have a word with himself.

How is he going to achieve all that anyway, he'll be 37 by the time he's back in the ring.

Bunce will be remembered as a fat moron, if that's what he has to say.

He says this is why he shouldn't come back. Still nonsense though.

[lillywhite14]

He had no option but to go through with it.

Managed to save his reputation with hardcore boxing fans who clearly recognise he lost through injury.

His pride must of taken a battering though. He clearly feels a couple of levels above Boomer.

Let's be honest, a peak, prime David Haye is always a couple of levels above Bellew. Tony himself pretty much admitted that.

[Tony1244]

Ha, if Haye thought he got stick over the toe injury, imagine what he'd have got if he'd have done his Achilles just walking to the ring

Very odd ringwalk that took an age . Only thing I don't understand is why his leg wasn't strapped up in the dressing room ?

Have heard he got an injection into it prefight mate so maybe thought he wouldn't needs strapped up

I admit I didn't know about any injury pre-fight. I hadn't seen the walk-in. Just saying he looked fine first few rounds. Maybe it was the injury, maybe age, we'll see if he fights again or if there's a rematch.

[Grilling Machine]

Strapping would have made no difference. The achilles controls the flexion of the foot, pulling the heel down, and the toes up. No strapping is going to make that any better. Strapping only helps with ankle injuries where you want to stop it rolling inward or outward.

My bike boots limit the mobility of my feet quite heavily (as they're meant to), so he could've worn custom boots. They'd have reduced his straight-punching power, but the real handicap is how much they restrict movement of your torso. Without the flexibility of your ankles you're heavily reliant on your quads to roll; it's like fighting on wet sand.

I'll say one good thing about my boots: they're great for walking on potholed ground. My garden's rough as anything, so when I catch a dip when I'm out mowing, my whole leg goes with it, saving me from injury. I also wear 'em for hill walks, 'cause they're great for coming down steeps without twisting me ankles. (One of my ankles is pretty shot from an old running injury, so I like to be careful now that I'm a bit older.)