by David P. Greisman
David Haye has told his trainer, Adam Booth, that he wants to return to the ring, and Booth says he’s OK with the former cruiserweight champion and heavyweight titleholder doing so.
“He said I want to fight,” Booth told BoxingScene.com on July 25, the day before Booth cornered heavyweight Mike Perez in Perez’s split decision loss to Bryant Jennings. “It’s his choice. If he’s convinced and he’s genuine about it, I’m going to support him.”
Haye was supposed to face prospect Tyson Fury earlier this year. But in November 2013 he pulled out, saying he needed major shoulder surgery and had been told he should retire.
Apparently the surgery went well enough that retirement is no longer necessary.
“I know his shoulder’s fine,” Booth said. “It’s not anecdotal. He’s had lots of scientific tests, and all of them have showed that there’s the same tensile strength in his damaged shoulder as there is in his good one.”
How does Haye stack up against the current heavyweight division?
“If I’m honest, I don’t even think about it,” Booth said. “I’ve been so focused on working with Mike, that for me that’s the only thing that I’m concerned about.”
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