Sport

Eddie Hearn insists Haye v Bellew showdown to go ahead

Katie Taylor fights Italy’s Monica Gentili on the undercard at the 02 Arena in London

Eddie Hearn has insisted the fight between David Haye and Tony Bellew is to go ahead despite reports suggesting Haye could withdraw due to an achilles injury. Photograph: Dave Thompson/Getty

Wed Mar 1 2017 - 13:56

Eddie Hearn has insisted David Haye remains fit to fight Tony Bellew on Saturday despite reports suggesting an Achilles injury could lead to his withdrawal.

The heavyweight had been pictured in Munich on Tuesday, leading to reports he was visiting respected surgeon Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt and that Saturday’s grudge match was in doubt.

However Hearn has revealed he learnt about a concern with Haye’s Achilles weeks ago. He is also adamant that the 36-year-old will be in the ring on Saturday and that he risks “not fighting in Britain again” if he does not.

There are also no concerns from within the Haye camp surrounding their fighter’s fitness.

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Katie Taylor is due to fight Italy’s Monica Gentili on the undercard.

It was in Munich that Dr Muller-Wohlfahrt operated on Haye's injured right shoulder in 2013, when for the second time he had been forced to withdraw from a fight against Tyson Fury. He also once withdrew from facing Wladimir Klitschko when he claimed he had suffered a back injury.

The combination of the two affected his popularity and led to questions surrounding his desire and Hearn — the co-promoter of the fight at London’s O2 Arena — referenced that when he said: “If he didn’t fight he couldn’t step in a British ring again.

“The public workouts are (on Wednesday evening). If he wasn’t fighting I’d know. He will be at the workouts and he will be in the ring on Saturday.

“I’d heard about an Achilles (problem) a few weeks back but he was playing football on Soccer AM at the weekend. If you’re that worried about an Achilles injury you’re not playing football, are you?

“It’s known he sometimes goes to Munich for treatment. That’s where he had surgery on his shoulder.”

Saturday’s fight represents the third of the comeback Haye started in January 2016. His shoulder injury had contributed to nearly four years of inactivity, and he said earlier this week he does not expect to still be fighting in two years.

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