David Haye is out yet again.
It’s a familiar story for the 37 year old Londoner, who pulled out of his 17th December boxing blockbuster with Tony Bellew this week with a torn bicep he injured in camp. Last weekend rumours were rife that Haye was out once again as the Haye team cancelled a press workout, but David vigorously denied this only to be pulled out rather embarrassingly this week.
Unfortunately this time the rumours are true..David Haye is out with a bicep tear more news later this week – full story here https://t.co/95tiznTKS9#BellewHaye2
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) November 20, 2017
When the return with Tony Bellew was first announced, the main question from the press was not could he win, but would his body get through another intense training camp?
And it appears the answer is a definite no, a familiar pattern in Haye’s career.
He has indeed a long history of injury and cancelled fights going way back to his amateur days when he was sidelined from the Manchester Commonwealth games 15 years ago. The Wladimir Klitschko fight was rescheduled after he injured his back and who can forget the toe explanation for his poor performance when they finally did lock horns in Germany two years later.
Tyson Fury was led a merry dance when Haye pulled out twice with an injured hand, then shoulder only to see the fight cancelled indefinitely. Before the first fight with Bellew there were rumours of an injury beforehand, which was confirmed when Haye’s Achilles snapped early and he was left haplessly walking on to punches from Bellew as he tried desperately to land one last Hayemaker, only to be stopped in the 11th round.
It’s been a 15 year professional career for Haye, that has seen him unify the cruiserweight division then step up to Heavyweight to win a biblical battle with the Goliath of the division taking the WBA crown from giant Nikolay Valuev in November 2009, but these great days are now a long time ago. indeed it is five years since his last decent win when stopping Derek Chisora in 5 rounds.
What now for Bellew versus Haye repeat or revenge? Which will be talked about for the New Year. Tony Bellew, I’m sure will maybe look at other options out there for one last big pay day, but talking to him and trainer Dave Coldwell recently, both said retirement for ‘The Bomber’ was not too far away.
As for Haye, like so many good champions who don’t know when to walk away, will his broken body ever be the same?
It’s a long way back in Boxing.