Former unified cruiserweight champion and WBA ‘regular’ heavyweight titleholder David ‘The Hayemaker’ Haye 29-4 (26) has called out WBC heavyweight champion Tyson ‘The Gypsy King’ Fury 30-0-1 (21) following his eight-round exhibition against friend and businessman Joe Fournier 9-1 (9) on Saturday night.
The bout took place on the undercard of the eight-round bout between former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort, 44, and ex-heavyweight and cruiserweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield, 58, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
“I did what I wanted to do tonight. I wanted to show the world I’ve got plenty left,” Haye said after his bout against Fournier.
The 40-year-old Haye from London hasn’t fought professionally since losing back-to-back fights to Tony Bellew in 2017 and 2018.
Haye and Fury were in negotiations to fight eight years ago but the bout never came to fruition.
The 33-year-old Fury has a contractual obligation to face old foe Deontay Wilder 42-1-1 (41) in a trilogy bout next month before he is expected to face WBA, WBO and IBF champion Anthony Joshua 24-1 (22) in a two fight series next year.
Joshua meanwhile will face WBO mandatory contender and former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk 18-0 (13) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Tottenham, England on September 25.
If Haye is serious about targeting a fight with Fury, he will need to wait. And if he wants the fight to be for the WBC heavyweight title, he will need to fight a ranked contender to find his way into the Mexican sanctioning body’s ratings.
“There’s one fighter I’d come back to professional boxing for and that’s Tyson Fury. That big, fat dosser,” Haye continued.
“I know what he can’t handle. I’m his kryptonite. I know he knows it, his dad knows it, his uncle knows it.
“My overhand right, which I didn’t show in there tonight. I didn’t want to scare him. If I let my right hand go, he wouldn’t be taking the fight.
“He thinks I’m 40 years old. He thinks I’m finished. I’ve been out of the ring, I’ve just had one fight against Joe Fournier. He thinks it’ll be an easy fight and he’s wrong.
“I know he’s dodging Anthony Joshua because he doesn’t want that work. I’ll give it to him. The Hayemaker will come for you.
“We were meant to fight in 2013, it didn’t happen. I’m healthy now, I’m ready to go. Fans want to see Tyson Fury fight someone who can knock him out.
“He’s been put down by way lighter punchers than myself. (Steve) Cunningham nearly had him out. Smaller guys have put him over.
“I know what his kryptonite is and he’s getting knocked out when we get in the ring.”
Haye easily outboxed Fournier, dropping him in the opening frame of their eight by two-minute round bout with a left jab.
