DAVID HAYE returns to boxing TONIGHT as he comes out of retirement to take on ex-pal Joe Fournier.
Nightclub supremo Fournier, 38, has a pro boxing record of 9-0, while Haye, 40, hasn’t fought since his fifth-round TKO loss to Tony Bellew in May 2018.
The big card also features Anderson Silva vs Tito Ortiz and is headlined by Evander Holyfield, 58, takng on MMA legend Vitor Belfort. Follow all of the action right here.
- Fight time: Bout expected around 2am BST
- TV/ live stream – Fite.TV
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Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
MAIN CARD UNDERWAY
And we’re off on the main card!
Here we go…
HAYEMAKER WARMING UP
Not long to go now!
David Haye is in his shorts in his dressing room and warming up.
Expect this one early in the card tonight.
TONIGHT’S FULL CARD
- Evander Holyfield vs Vitor Belfort
- Anderson Silva vs Tito Ortiz
- Andy Vences vs Jono Carroll
- David Haye vs Joe Fournier
THE BILLIONAIRE
Standing in Haye’s way tonight is nightclub supremo Joe Fournier, 38.
The pair used to be good pals until a “boozy” night on holiday in Mykonos ended with warring words between the two.
Fellow Brit Fournier has a pro record of 9-0.
HAYE VS FOURNIER
Former friends turned enemies…
The Hayemaker, 40, has predicted a quick knockout in just a few hours time.
KO VOW
Haye has promised to make quick work of Fournier tonight, predicting the fight will NOT go the distance.
He said: “There shouldn’t be any version of reality that sees me losing this fight.
“He just doesn’t see my body holding up for eight rounds, he doesn’t see it.
“The quicker I get it over and done with the better for everybody.
“Once I get my timing there, it should be pretty brutal, pretty fast.”
ED HUNTER
One man who won’t be watching tonight is Eddie Hearn, who called the fight a JOKE.
He told TalkSport: “Floyd Mayweather vs Logan Paul was just a joke and so’s David Haye vs Joe Fournier, but it’s just a bit of fun…
“Some people want to almost respect their legacy in the sport and some just wanna make as much money as possible.
“We just need to focus on boxing. I’ve done that before, we had a bit of fun, it was a bit cringe to be honest, it was tough at times, but I do understand the demand.”
MAKE HAYE WHILE THE SUN SHINES
Haye already has a next opponent lined up after Fournier.
But it’s being kept a secret for now.
Triller promoter Ryan Kavanaugh said this week: “All I can say without giving too much away is that you should expect a very big fight.
“I couldn’t tell you who it is.”
MYK TAKE
Haye admits the fight with Fournier only came about thanks to a boozy night in Mykonos!
Haye revealed: “This whole fight between us, came into existence when at dinner with a group in Mykonos we were asked who would win in a fight between us.
“I laughed, but out of respect for Joe’s ego suggested it would be close, maybe a draw – whilst winking to Joe.
“Joe’s straight-faced response was very different, he was deadly serious stating he would win in a fight today – I assumed it was just the tequila talking.
“And that’s exactly where it started. A boozy night in Mykonos, two alpha males peacocking with a crowd of girls.”
WHO NOSE?
Fournier claimed this week that he once gave Haye a broken nose in a secret sparring session!
He told Switchbox TV: “So there was one occasion in Miami where I’ve hit him with a left hook and bang – broken nose – blood literally everywhere.
“Imagine if that was a 10oz glove without headgear, what would really have happened? You do think about it.
“He’s going 70 per cent, I’m going flat out trying to survive but it’s been six years I’ve been active and four where he hasn’t and you have to think, this is a real match-up!”
TAKING THE MIKE
Interestingly, Haye doesn’t rate Mike Tyson – headliner Holyfield’s most infamous opponent – as one of the top five heavyweights of all time.
He told the Costello and Bunce podcast: “How many fights did he (Tyson) have where he was behind on points? Where he got put down, hurt and came back, that’s the question.
“The moment he started to lose or it started to get tough, it seemed to go the other way.
“Many fighters – Holyfield, Lennox Lewis – they’ve all had tough fights where they are on the brink of losing and found a way to win, I’ve never seen that with Tyson.
“I find it hard to say someone’s in the top five of all time if they’ve never had a fight which they were losing and they came back to win.”
TALL TALE
Let’s take a look at the tale of the tape before going any further.
Haye quite clearly has the height, weight and reach advantage.
He also has an incredible 26 KOs from his 28 wins.
But Fournier is not a fighter to take lightly as he looks to remain unbeaten.
NO JOKE
The result of this fight WILL count on Haye and Fournier’s professional records.
Haye’s last bout in May 2018 saw him lose to Tony Bellew – his fourth defeat in 32 outings.
Meanwhile, Fournier is unbeaten in ten fights, winning nine of them.
What are the odds of this going the full eight rounds?
TIME TO SHINE
What time is Haye’s ring walk? I hear you ask.
The Brit is expected out around 3am BST at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Florida.
Holyfield vs Belfort will be an hour later at 4am.
Before Haye, there’s an intriguing battle between Anderson Silva and Tito Ortiz at 2am.
HAYE THERE
Good evening all and welcome to SunSport’s coverage of David Haye vs Joe Fournier.
The Hayemaker will return to the ring for the first time since 2018 after coming out of retirement to fight his former friend.
And it’s sure to be a tasty undercard clash as the world prepares for the main event between Evander Holyfield and Vitor Belfort.
Who’s your money on?
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
