David Haye 3.0 explains his decision to fight Joe Fournier at age 40

David Haye vs. Joe Fournier

Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, USA 11/9/21

Former two-weight world champion David Haye is to face Joe Fournier on a Triller Fight Club event on Saturday 11 September.

The event is scheduled to take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, and is headlined by a showdown between boxing legend Oscar de la Hoya and Vitor Belfort.

Fournier (9-0, 9 KOs) was last in action in April, competing on another Triller show when he stopped Reggae singer Reykon after two rounds.

In a shock development, he is now set to meet Haye (28-4, 26 KOs), who won world titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight and was last in action back in May 2018.

Rumour has it that if all goes well on September 11, Haye will square off with former foe Derek Chisora in the new year, though Haye denies any other fights taking place in the future.

Haye explains, “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. Fast forward two weeks, I remain happily retired from boxing, with no intentions to make a traditional comeback to challenge the monsters of the division but am fit and ready to prove my point against my overconfident billionaire buddy.

I would’ve been more than happy to prove this point behind closed doors, I suggested a 4-round spar in my Hayemaker Gym in London, which would have been more than enough to shut him up. But for Fournier, the ‘Ric Flair’ of the boxing world, this would have done nothing for his ‘legacy’. Joe asked what it would cost to get me through the ropes one last time for an official fight, on a real stage. I told him it would have to be a package rivalling my last PPV blockbusters. A few calls with the lawyers, and here we are.

Streaming powerhouse platform ‘Triller’ loved the idea of such a spectacle and presented me with an offer I simply could not turn down. An opportunity to prove a point to a friend, earning true Pay-Per-View monies, whilst doing what I have always loved, simultaneously giving fans one last evening of nostalgia – who in their right mind would ever turn that opportunity down?

This fight is the ultimate battle of egos, the outcome of some drunken bar banter. Now I have to teach some manners to a dear (but delusional) friend of mine Joe Fournier. A reminder to Joe that his best boxing achievement is being ranked No.10 in the world by the WBA whilst holding the WBA international belt at Light-heavyweight, 5 years ago.

Whilst an unexpected challenge, since retirement I have remained in the gym and I am always mindful of what I put in my body meaning with just 4 weeks’ notice, I am currently 10lbs lighter than my first fight against Tony Bellew some four years ago. I’m looking forward to lacing up some 10oz gloves, ring walking at LA’s Staples Centre to ‘Ain’t No Stoppin Us Now’ to give a friend a brutal education in boxing.

This is not a comeback; this is about teaching Joe Fournier there are levels to the boxing game. One must stay in their lane or risk getting flattened.

Joe ‘The Billionaire’ Fournier needs to learn that certain things in life you can’t buy. Champions are born not bought.”

“I’m here to make a statement” Fourier elaborates, “Like the business world, timing is everything in the fight game, I have immense respect for David’s past achievements, but his time has passed. I’m younger, fitter and faster. He may have been World Heavyweight Champion, but that moment has gone, I am still learning the sport, coming into my prime.

His demise will meet my rise and come September 11th the boxing world is in for a huge shock.”  

(Kristian von Sponneck)

Subscribe to Fightzone for great weekly boxing – just £4.99 a month (use code ‘boxen247’)

Subscribe to our new YouTube Channel starting soon with the latest boxing news and results, gossip and information from around the world. Just click the video image link below:

For the list of boxing events we will cover live with and with unofficial scorecard (main event), click the following link > Live Boxing Results & Events<