On Saturday night, at the O2 Arena in London, the heavyweight fight we witnessed far exceeded anything we?d expected beforehand.
Most pundits were expecting David Haye to blow away Tony Bellew inside the first two or three rounds.
As it turned out it was to be Bellew that lasted the course and force an eleventh round stoppage with David Haye struggling from round six onwards with a ruptured Achilles.
The injury resulted in Haye having surgery to repair the Achilles, surgery that will keep the fighter side-lined for the next nine months.
Many have wondered whether the spell on the side-lines will result in the Londoner being ushered through the retirement door.
But Haye is reticent that will not be the case, remarking to the media,
‘I live to fight another day and I will fight another day.
‘No doubt about it, I have never been more sure about it.
‘Other athletes have come back in six to nine months after the same injury, I am in a good condition, a healthy-living person and I am looking forward to getting back in there.’
Well it would seem the desire is still there to fight on but just how much will nine months out of the ring change Haye?s standing in boxing.
Many criticised the quality of his comeback opponents following his shoulder surgery and losing to Bellew has obviously seen his standing in the heavyweight rankings affected.
Unless Haye gets a very lucky break, which we can?t at this moment in time see happening, Haye will walk back onto the scene with unification matches beckoning for Parker, Joshua and Wilder, will either of that trio entertain a fight with an ageing gunslinger, I seriously doubt it?d be a fight that would anyone other than the British public would swallow.
How about you, what are your feeling on Haye boxing on?
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Haye Set to Fight On
