David Haye has admitted that he thinks one fighter would have got the better of him even during his peak years.
Londoner Haye is a former two-weight world champion who was loved for his explosive power and sharp reflexes inside the ring. In the cruiserweight division he unified three major titles and claimed lineal status in 2008, which ensured his place among the divisional greats.
Never one to shy from a challenge, the Brit then stepped up to heavyweight, where he outclassed the 7 foot giant Nikolai Valuev to capture the WBA title and join an elite group of fighters to win world championships in both divisions.
He later fought the likes of Wladimir Klitschko and ended his career with back-to-back losses to Tony Bellew, albeit having struggled for several years with injuries.
Despite his fearsome reputation, Haye has admitted, while speaking to Carl Froch on his YouTube channel, that there’s one modern heavyweight he’d rather avoid, even during his peak.
“In my prime, I think I beat everyone except [Evander] Holyfield. He’d have smashed me, no doubt.”
Holyfield was known as ‘The Real Deal’ for a reason – he is the only four-time world heavyweight champion in boxing history, having been an Olympic bronze medalist in 1984.
Holyfield first conquered the cruiserweight division and became undisputed champion before moving up to heavyweight. There, he defeated legends like Mike Tyson, George Foreman and Riddick Bowe in an era-defining career.
Renowned for his heart, granite chin and relentless fighting spirit, Holyfield retired from the sport as a true legend in 2011.
