DAVID HAYE has called out world champ Tyson Fury after winning in his boxing comeback.
The Hayemaker, 40, beat his feuding former pal Joe Fournier on points over eight rounds, and the pair hugged and made up at the final bell.
The big card also featured Anderson Silva vs Tito Ortiz and was headlined by Evander Holyfield, 58, against MMA legend Vitor Belfort. Follow all of the reaction right here.
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‘I’D STILL FIGHT TYSON’
Evander Holyfield insists he is still open to a trilogy fight with Mike Tyson despite a humiliating first-round loss to Vitor Belfort.
The 58-year-old was stopped in a comeback clash one fan described as ‘the saddest event I have ever seen in a boxing ring’.
Yet despite his embarrassing loss to Belfort, Holyfield insists he would still fight Mike Tyson for a third time, 24 years after their second bout.
Speaking after his defeat to Belfort, Holyfield said: “The guy pushed me, the guy is strong.
“But I wasn’t hurt. There wasn’t no shot that hurt me real bad. He got me with a shot and I was off-balance. I’m not hurt. It’s kind of sad.
“I think it was a bad call, he shouldn’t have stopped the fight that quick.”
When asked whether he would still fight Tyson, he then added: “Of course I would.”
HAYE: IT’S THE FUTURE
David Haye claims big-name exhibition events could be the future of boxing – like movie fans watching new roles for Schwarzenegger and Stallone.
Before his win, he told the BBC: “The purists will say this is ridiculous, why am I fighting this guy? But you don’t have to watch it.
“If you look at the Logan Paul and KSI fights, on the undercard you had legitimate world champions earning more money than they would have done fighting on a traditional boxing card.
“It’s giving younger fighters more options and more money to do what they want to do. It’s actually stimulating boxing.”
He added: “I see it very similar as going to watch The Expendables with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone and all of those legends.”
SILVA LINING
Anderson Silva delivered a stunning first round knockout to defeat Tito Ortiz.
The former UFC middleweight champion pulled on the boxing gloves to face his fellow ex-MMA star.
And ‘Spider’ needed just one minute and 21 seconds to end the contest.
The 46-year-old said afterwards: “I trained hard for this fight and to show my respect to the boxing world.
“Now I go back home to continue training and… we’ll see.”
HAYE CALLS OUT FURY
Speaking after his win over Fournier, Haye said: “There’s one fighter I’d come back to professional boxing for and that’s Tyson Fury.
“Tyson Fury, that big fat dosser, I know his kryptonite, I know what he can’t handle.
“He’s a dosser, it’s his word, he’s a dosser. And I’m his kryptonite. I know that he knows it, his dad knows it, his uncle knows it.”
HOLY MOLY
Evander Holyfield blasted the referee for stopping his comeback early.
The 58-year-old, who is a former five-time world champion, pulled on the gloves again as a late replacement for Covid-hit Oscar De La Hoya.
Holyfield said after the fight ended in under two minutes: “I thought it was a bad call.
“I don’t think the referee should have stopped the fight that quick.”
TRUMPED
David Haye may have enjoyed his comeback victory over Joe Fournier – but Donald Trump was not impressed.
The 40-year-old former British boxing star returned to the ring with an easy win over his close pal.
Ex-cruiserweight and heavyweight champ ‘Hayemaker’ was fighting for the first time since losing to Tony Bellew three years ago.
And he won each of the eight rounds – including a 10-8 round in the first after flooring his opponent.
It seemed to be a fairly soft knockdown, and the former US President was rather unmoved by the bout in general.
Trump was sat in the commentary booth to call the action at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
And after taking several shots at current president Joe Biden, he then summed up the Haye fight up perfectly when he said: “Right now, the audience likes politics better.”
HAYE TO SAY IT
David Haye said Tyson Fury is ‘avoiding Anthony Joshua’ and wants to fight the Gypsy King instead after his comeback win.
Former cruiserweight and heavyweight champion Haye made a shock return to the ring against his friend Joe Fournier.
The British boxing legend, who once managed and promoted Fournier, comfortably won over eight rounds.
And afterwards, Haye confirmed he would continue in the professional ranks, but only to finally fight Fury.
But to rub salt in the wounds, he accused the WBC king of swerving long-time rival AJ.
Haye, 40, said: “I know he’s avoiding Anthony Joshua, I know he’s trying to put trying to put him on the back burner, he doesn’t want that work.
“I’ll give it to him, I’ll give him that work. He wants to fight, the Hayemaker will come for you.”
HAYE VS FURY
We were supposed to see David Haye vs Tyson Fury eight years ago before various injuries stopped the fight from happening.
Would boxing fans want to see it now? Or would it be too much of a one-sided fight?
HOLYFIELD VS BELFORT
But it was a sad return to the ring for Evander Holyfield, who was stopped in the first round by former UFC star Vitor Belfort.
ELSEWHERE…
Anderson Silva knocked out Tito Ortiz in the first round of their match-up…
RECAP – HAYE CALLS OUT TYSON FURY
Haye said after his win over pal Joe Fournier: “There’s one fighter I’d come back to professional boxing for and that’s Tyson Fury.
“Tyson Fury, that big fat dosser, I know his kryptonite, I know what he can’t handle.
“He’s a dosser, it’s his word, he’s a dosser. And I’m his kryptonite. I know that he knows it, his dad knows it, his uncle knows it.”
Credit: Getty Images – Getty VITOR-Y PARADE
Vitor Belfort celebrated in the ring with his family after stopping Evander Holyfield in one round.
He then called out Jake Paul…in a WINNER-TAKE-ALL $30million clash.
Credit: Getty Credit: AFP SILVA LINING
Anderson Silva delivered a stunning first round knockout to defeat Tito Ortiz.
The former UFC middleweight champion pulled on the boxing gloves to face his fellow ex-MMA star.
And ‘Spider’ needed just one minute and 21 seconds to end the contest.
The 46-year-old said afterwards: “I trained hard for this fight and to show my respect to the boxing world.
“Now I go back home to continue training and… we’ll see.”
HAYE’S DAY
David Haye looked sharp in his eight round run-out against ex-pal Joe Fournier.
He dropped Fournier in the first round, with a jab.
HOLYFIELD REACTS
Evander Holyfield was devastated after that loss, but he can have no real complaints.
Credit: AFP Credit: AFP Credit: Getty
HOLY COW
Evander Holyfield blasted the referee for stopping his comeback early.
The 58-year-old former five-time world champion pulled on the gloves again as a late replacement for Covid-hit Oscar De La Hoya.
Holyfield said after the fight ended in under two minutes: “I thought it was a bad call.
“I don’t think the referee should have stopped the fight that quick.”
MAKING HAYE
After his hand was raised Haye said the only pro fight he’s interested in is…Tyson Fury.
Will the Gypsy King respond?
HAYE VS FOURNIER
They may have been embroiled in a war of words in the build up to the fight, but they were back to being best mates after it.
TRUMPED
David Haye may have enjoyed his comeback victory over Joe Fournier – but Donald Trump was not impressed.
The 40-year-old former British boxing star returned to the ring with an easy win over his close pal.
Trump was sat in the commentary booth to call the action at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
And after taking several shots at current president Joe Biden, he then summed up the Haye fight up perfectly when he said: “Right now, the audience likes politics better.”
BELFORT VS JAKE PAUL?
More on Vitor Belfort’s $30million offer to Jake Paul.
Head of Triller’s Fight Club banner, movie mogul Ryan Kavanaugh, is ready to front the mega-money payday for Paul and even added an extra $5m.
He said: “We at Triller, are agreeing a full pro fight, Vitor versus Jake Paul; 25 million winner-takes-all.
“And we want it on Thanksgiving day at the one-year anniversary, Thanksgiving Saturday.
“Thirty million, winner-takes-all, if Jake says no, we know why.”
BELFORT BEATS HOLYFIELD
MMA legend Belfort took under two minutes before the referee called a stop to proceedings.
And he was quick to call out Jake Paul AND Canelo afterwards.
Credit: Triller
HOLYFIELD VS BELFORT STOPPAGE
And here is the finish by Belfort on Holyfield.
Do you agree with the ref?
BELFORT CALLS OUT JAKE PAUL
Belfort said: “Hey Jake Paul, stop running you little b****!”
And Triller bosses have said it will be a WINNER TAKES ALL fight for $30MILLION…
Will Jake Paul accept?
HOLYFIELD SPEAKS
Holyfield said: “I think it was a bad call.
“I’m not hurt.”
BELFORT WINS
Holyfield initially protested the referee stoppage, but he seems to have accepted it now.
Belfort’s children are in tears with celebration in the ring.
Easy night for The Phenom.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
