IN one of the yearโs more surprising pronouncements, Tyson Fury has welcomed David Hayeโs hinted-at return to the ring. Haye has implied a comeback more than once in recent times but has not fought since 2012 and his latest comments โ suggesting a 2016 resurgence โ were issued only weeks before Furyโs November 28 shot at world heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko, who outscored the Londoner the year before he began what may still be an extended hiatus. Add that Haye twice pulled out of lucrative (for both men) showdowns with Fury and the latterโs magnanimous response to the latest news is even more startling
โI donโt know what his motives are and I donโt really care,โ Fury began, before bucking expectations. โThis is a business at the end of the day and if a fight with Haye makes business sense Iโd consider it. Heโs still a big fight in England if he beats someone to get back up there; we could do maybe 2 million buys on pay-per-view. If he gets back in the mix it adds more spice to the cake. I have no hard feelings towards Haye, Iโm getting my shot anyway, so I hope he gets back up there and the people get behind him.โ
Quizzed further on whether โThe Hayemakerโ, a former two-weight world ruler, can regain anything like his former status at age 35, Fury was relatively encouraging, but with a caveat.
โThereโs only Klitschko, myself and Deontay Wilder,โ he said regarding the current population of the heavyweight division. โThe rest are mediocre men, there are prospects coming up, but thereโs not many top fighters out there now. Who is there to beat? I donโt rate Alexander Povetkin in that bracket, Hayeโs speed and agility would be too much against him and we know he can be hurt and knocked down.โ