David Haye was once set to face Tyson Fury, but in a strange twist of fight, ended up beating on Fury’s future opponent instead.
David Haye and Tyson Fury were set to face one another in 2013, but due to a cut sustained by Haye in sparring, the fight was moved to 2014.
It was canceled indefinitely when Haye pulled out once more after a shoulder surgery.
Whilst Haye never did fight ‘The Gypsy King’, who has his own criminal doppelganger named Davy Fury, there is footage of an entertaining sparring session he had with Fury’s biggest rival.
David Haye outclassed ‘The Bronze Bomber’ in sparring
Haye reportedly told Adam Booth that he wanted the biggest and strongest fighters to come and spar.
Haye sparred the likes of Filip Hrgovic, George Groves, and Deontay Wilder ahead of the event.
Some footage exists of the spar with Wilder, which appears to show Haye outclassing him and using his movement to make Wilder miss.
Since the spar, Haye has spoken on his experience sparring Wilder, stating:
“He was absolutely fantastic, probably the best sparring partner I’ve ever been in the ring with.”
Though Haye, who defeated the heaviest heavyweight ever and now a member of parliament in Valuev, praised Wilder’s toughness and power, it is rumored that it was actually the Croatian, Filip Hrgovic, who spoiled the party by cutting Haye in sparring.
Tyson Fury and David Haye in war of words at presser
Ahead of their fight, Haye and Fury met for a press conference in Manchester, where a war of words soon ensued between the heavyweights.
Fury said: “I’m the one who is on everyone’s tongue, you’re just the one who stinks the place out against people and blames it on your little toe.”
He continued: “He is a big tart, David Haye, I’ve let him have everything he wants. […] I want him to be the champion in this fight because this is the last time he’s ever gonna get claim to fame or glory.”
Haye was a bit more composed at the presser but said: “This guy’s got such a lack of coordination, he sometimes missing his opponents and punches himself in the face.”
This happened in Fury’s fight with Lee Swaby, where he did punch himself in the face.