BoxRec

"Exclusive: David Haye admits he was injured before first Tony Bellew fight, but promises ‘absolute monster’ for rematch"

David Haye has admitted that he was injured heading into his first fight with Tony Bellew, but claims he has had no such issues in preparation for their May 5 rematch, which you can listen to live on talkSPORT.

The former cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion was stunned by an eleventh-round knockout defeat to Tony Bellew last March, during which he appeared to pick up an Achilles issue in the sixth round.

However, there has since been much speculation over whether Haye carried this injury into the bout and was suffering from the very beginning, as he was pictured in Munich with a medical specialist on the week of the fight.

“At this stage [for the first camp] I think I was in Germany,” confirmed Haye to talkSPORT.

“It was very different prior to the first fight, there were a few issues before. This time round I’ve had no physical issues so I’ll be getting in the ring in tip-top condition.”

“I think the word was out, I remember Bellew saying before the fight that he knows my body’s gonna fall apart and he was right, he must have seen my medical records or something. This time, that’s not the case. Unfortunately for him he’s getting in the ring with an absolute monster this time around.

Thoughts?

I think most people realised he was injured. It was in the press the week before their fight that he was seeing a specialist in Germany about an achilles injury and he had a noticeable limp walking into the ring. As he had pulled out of too many fights in the past he knew he would get slaughtered by the public if he pulled out again so he went through with the fight. I'm sure he thought it would last 1-2 rounds so was ready to risk it. It backfired. Bellew also hinted that one of Hayes team leaked the injury before the fight, thats why he was spot on with his prediction. I also think the reason he went to America to train was so the press wouldn't pick up on it.

Whether he admitted it now or in a few years, We all knew he was injured. It's good that he has admitted it. Always good to head it from the boxers mouth.

yes, good to hear the truth. but haye also said he was haye 2.0 and better and fitter than ever before, last time. so why believe him this time. ... haye certainly was terrible last time, be it from injuries only or age, but showed great heart.

It was pretty clear he was injured prior to the first fight.

He was much fleshier than usual which suggested he wasn't hitting the cardio as hard as he normally would in the build up.

He also came out and tried to take Bellew's head off from the first bell, which was never really his style. He clearly knew he only had a few rounds in him.

dullest rematch of the last 10 years.

Well "boo hoo hoo." Poor Haye.....

As if he needed to admit it.

I'm hoping that injury or no injury this time the wear and tear on his body over the years will be too much and Bellew will beat him again.

it was obvious during the ring walk.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑27 Apr 2018, 17:20 As if he needed to admit it.

I'm hoping that injury or no injury this time the wear and tear on his body over the years will be too much and Bellew will beat him again.

sportsmans bet. haye wins by ko inside 8 rounds.

HeavyHitters wrote: ↑27 Apr 2018, 16:47 Well "boo hoo hoo." Poor Haye.....

Haye always has an excuse. The most embarrassing was him taking off his shoe after being totally humiliated by Wlad. He's also had a bunch of fixed fight so called wins .

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑27 Apr 2018, 18:37

gilgamesh wrote: ↑27 Apr 2018, 17:20 As if he needed to admit it.

I'm hoping that injury or no injury this time the wear and tear on his body over the years will be too much and Bellew will beat him again.

sportsmans bet. haye wins by ko inside 8 rounds.

I don't bet with individuals that ain't sitting right in front of me in the flesh.

Online betting can make you thousands a year... With good discipline and a little knowledge of Boxing and real odds.

Haye should be an easy winner this time if he hasn't aged dramatically... That's the outside chance but he looks good... He's going to be 38 this year... He'll probably end up like Luis Ortiz... Looking at his spittle streaming on the canvas -- if he doesn't hurry and get big fights in the next year... Age is brutal and there's no going back baby... Do it now or you're done.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑27 Apr 2018, 19:52

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑27 Apr 2018, 18:37

gilgamesh wrote: ↑27 Apr 2018, 17:20 As if he needed to admit it.

I'm hoping that injury or no injury this time the wear and tear on his body over the years will be too much and Bellew will beat him again.

sportsmans bet. haye wins by ko inside 8 rounds.

I don't bet with individuals that ain't sitting right in front of me in the flesh.

a sportsmans bet is one that involves no money.

Kalan wrote: ↑27 Apr 2018, 20:52 Online betting can make you thousands a year... With good discipline and a little knowledge of Boxing and real odds.

Haye should be an easy winner this time if he hasn't aged dramatically... That's the outside chance but he looks good... He's going to be 38 this year... He'll probably end up like Luis Ortiz... Looking at his spittle streaming on the canvas -- if he doesn't hurry and get big fights in the next year... Age is brutal and there's no going back baby... Do it now or you're done.

only if you have a huge amount to play with. there is a poster here i know in real life who was a professional gambler for quite some time and is now working for an online betting firm he certainly didnt get rich doing it.

David Haye promising to be fit for a fight is bit like Duncan Goodhew promising to grow a full head of hair!

Nice of him to finally admit to being injured going in last time, especially as everyone watching knew it already.

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑28 Apr 2018, 04:37

gilgamesh wrote: ↑27 Apr 2018, 19:52

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑27 Apr 2018, 18:37

sportsmans bet. haye wins by ko inside 8 rounds.

I don't bet with individuals that ain't sitting right in front of me in the flesh.

a sportsmans bet is one that involves no money.

Ok...what'd you have in mind?

I don't know why Haye gets applause for revealing an injury.

Isn't that a little self-serving? Isn't that just an excuse.

"I would have won, mates. But I was injured. Believe me, please."

If you're injured, pull out. Don't use it as an alibi. Once the bell rings, I'm going to assume that you're capable of giving it all.

Even if the injury was legit, I prefer fighters keep it to themselves. Every fighter enters the ring with something hurting. It's the nature of training.

And even though Haye says he's now 100%, I suspect he'll claim that another mysterious injury hampered him should Bellew blow him away once more.

SenorPipino wrote: ↑28 Apr 2018, 14:02 I don't know why Haye gets applause for revealing an injury.

Isn't that a little self-serving? Isn't that just an excuse.

"I would have won, mates. But I was injured. Believe me, please."

If you're injured, pull out. Don't use it as an alibi. Once the bell rings, I'm going to assume that you're capable of giving it all.

Even if the injury was legit, I prefer fighters keep it to themselves. Every fighter enters the ring with something hurting. It's the nature of training.

And even though Haye says he's now 100%, I suspect he'll claim that another mysterious injury hampered him should Bellew blow him away once more.

Ditto. I never buy that sh*t, even if it's from my favorite fighter. "I was sick"..."I was injured"...well tough sh*t. You got your ass in the ring didn't you?

Once you're in the ring it's two men, somebody's gonna win and somebody's gonna lose. No excuses.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑28 Apr 2018, 12:58

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑28 Apr 2018, 04:37

gilgamesh wrote: ↑27 Apr 2018, 19:52

I don't bet with individuals that ain't sitting right in front of me in the flesh.

a sportsmans bet is one that involves no money.

Ok...what'd you have in mind?

nowt. its just a turn of phrase. you just made a prediction ive made mine. whoever is nearer thd mark gets bragging rights.

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑28 Apr 2018, 14:29

gilgamesh wrote: ↑28 Apr 2018, 12:58

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑28 Apr 2018, 04:37

a sportsmans bet is one that involves no money.

Ok...what'd you have in mind?

nowt. its just a turn of phrase. you just made a prediction ive made mine. whoever is nearer thd mark gets bragging rights.

Alrighty then.

Not gonna lie, a large part of me is going against Haye is just because I despise him

When I put my personal feelings aside, he certainly has a very good chance of winning the fight because Bellew is no world beater. I don't make a habit of picking with my heart over my brain, but in this case I don't think that's necessarily what I'm doing as Haye IS older, IS injury prone, and HAS already been beaten by this man once before.

My gawd. . . . .What?. . . Haye hurt his ear lobe?. . . .his hair?. . . .British fans will accept anything to continue to believe he is one of the greatest.. . . . I hope Haye hurts an eye lash in the rematch.

actjac wrote: ↑28 Apr 2018, 23:00 My gawd. . . . .What?. . . Haye hurt his ear lobe?. . . .his hair?. . . .British fans will accept anything to continue to believe he is one of the greatest.. . . . I hope Haye hurts an eye lash in the rematch.

Please, no, otherwise it'll be Haye/Bellew 3 in 2020 once David's eyelash has healed.

x2x wrote: ↑27 Apr 2018, 18:37

HeavyHitters wrote: ↑27 Apr 2018, 16:47 Well "boo hoo hoo." Poor Haye.....

:OhYes: :lol: :OhYes: :lol: :OhYes:

Haye always has an excuse. The most embarrassing was him taking off his shoe after being totally humiliated by Wlad. He's also had a bunch of fixed fight so called wins .

He wasn't humiliated by Wlad at all. He was well beaten but it was no humiliation. That's as bad as people saying Fury outclassed and schooled Wlad. Not accurate at all.

But yes he shouldn't have got his toe out.

David Haye has got everything to prove and everything against him. It wasn't that long ago when people would have laughed against a 37 year old injury hit fighter attempting to return from injury once more.

The strains and demands of heavyweight boxing are enormous. Has he been able to adapt his style enough to relieve enough of the pressures on his joints? Can his hands even hold up for 12 rounds?

The big problem with Tony Bellew is that he's a lot better than he looks and often gets underestimated as a result. Bellew is no fool and he knows his own limitations well. He isn't joking when he says that David Haye was a far better boxer than himself. But the emphasis is clearly on 'was'. It's a bit worrying why Haye would mention his injury once more. There's little to gain as Bellew's mindset is bomb-proof.

Bellew will already know that Haye's best chance is to win with a quick KO. He might not want to risk trying to win over the full 12, and it's unlikely that he will be able to pull one out of the fire again like he did in his finest moment against Chisora.

Another compelling fight coming up and another long night for David Haye.