David Haye was victorious — not in a way that counts on his pro record — in tonight’s exhibition against Joe Fournier on the Triller Fight Club show, taking a decision on scores of 79-73, 79-72, and 80-71.
This was an exhibition and looked every bit of it, eight rounds, two minutes apiece. The 40-year-old Haye accidentally knocked the 38-year-old Fournier down on a counter jab at the end of the first round, and from there he spent most of his time being careful not to throw anything that could do damage, eating up time by moving around, clinching, slipping punches, not throwing anything over about 40% speed or power.
But Haye made bigger waves by calling out Tyson Fury after the showcase, and pretty much let it slip that this thing tonight was not a real fight.
“I did what I wanted to do tonight. I wanted to show the world I’ve got plenty left,” Haye added. “There’s one fighter I’d come back to professional boxing for, and that’s Tyson Fury. That big, fat dosser. 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.”
Fury (30-0-1, 21 KO) has his WBC title defense and third fight against Deontay Wilder on Oct. 9 in Las Vegas to worry about, and his recently laid out “hit list” definitely didn’t include David Haye, but then it wouldn’t have because David Haye is not an active fighter.
