David Haye insists size doesn’t matter
David Haye has insisted that he’s not worried by the size of his opponent Tyson Fury.
The former world heavyweight champion will be around six inches shorter and several stone lighter than Tyson Fury when they do battle on September 28.
Haye, who won the world title by overcoming 7ft tall Nikola Valuev in 2009, is looking forward to producing a repeat performance and bringing the bigger man down.
“If Fury is relying on size and strength to win this fight, he’s in for a rude awakening,” said Haye.
“Fury might be taller and heavier, but that doesn’t mean he’s stronger than me. And it certainly doesn’t mean he hits harder than me.
“In fact, I’m pretty sure, based on our track records, that one of my shots will do twice the damage of one of his.”
Haye did of course go 12 rounds with Wladimir Klitschko two years ago and was again the smaller heavyweight when he blew Audley Harrison away in three rounds in 2010.
This time he is expected to enter the ring a daunting six inches shorter and around 40lbs – almost three stones – lighter than Fury.
But the former cruiserweight world champion still believes Fury might prove to be one of his easiest assignments – but also one of the most entertaining.
“Fury is the ideal big man for me, because he doesn’t use his dimensions the way he probably should,” he continued.
“He’s not long, cautious and technical like Wladimir and Audley, and he’s not granite-jawed and hairy like Valuev.
“What you get with Fury is a game and hittable heavyweight who loves a tear-up. That means he gives you loads of opportunities to bounce punches off his jaw and fleshy body. ”
“He’s not scared and he’s not worried about being sparked out. Once he climbs into the ring, he wants to do damage and he wants to feel like he’s in a proper tear-up.
“If he boxes me at long range it won’t work, because he’s not good enough, technically, to do that. But if he comes to fight, and uses every ounce of his weight on me, we’re in for one hell of a fun ride. And he’s in for one hell of a headache the next morning.”