David Haye has named the most durable man he ever faced, who took his best shots and somehow left the ring on his feet.
The ‘Hayemaker’ was a dynamite puncher at both cruiser and heavyweight, with his speed and athleticism also contributing to him becoming a two-division world champion.
He did so by dethroning Jean Marc Mormeck and Nikolai Valuev in 2007 and 2009, respectively, while claiming two of his signature wins in the process.
Mormeck was considered a particularly dangerous and rugged champion, yet Haye nonetheless scored a seventh-round finish after climbing off the canvas.
The Londoner then edged a split decision against Valuev, a 7ft giant, who heard the final bell after getting put on unsteady legs in round 12.
According to Haye, though, the toughest opponent he ever faced was Derek Chisora, who he stopped in round five of their heavyweight encounter in 2012.
Their in-ring fight materialised following an infamous confrontation in Germany, where Chisora repeatedly cried “he glassed me!” after Haye laid bare fists on his chin.
Proceedings were then similarly one-sided as Haye dished out a punishing beatdown, eventually scoring two knockdowns with a sustained fifth-round onslaught.
Speaking with Sun Boxing, the former world heavyweight champion gave immense credit to the remarkable chin of his former rival.
“Derek Chisora took some big shots. I was hitting him with shots that [fans] probably didn’t even realise, but they were big, big shots.
“He finished on his feet as well. I don’t know anyone else that wouldn’t be sleeping for 10 minutes.”
Even at the age of 42, Chisora remains an active heavyweight and is coming off a split decision defeat to Deontay Wilder in April.
