'I'd never do a David Haye' (From Swindon Advertiser)

'I'd never do a David Haye'

6:20am Thursday 20th October 2011 in Boxing By Ned Payne

SWINDON boxer Kelvin Young has paid tribute to retired heavyweight David Haye, but has revealed he would take different career decisions to the former WBA world heavyweight champion.

Haye lived up to his promise that he would not fight past his 31st birthday when he retired last week, his previous outing being a heavyweight unification bout against formidable Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko.

The British fighter was a controversial figure throughout his career due to a number of outlandish statements and publicity stunts, and he divided opinion after his points defeat to Klitschko by admitting he had stepped in the ring with a broken little toe on his right foot.

He claimed the injury had affected his ability to push off and therefore throw the right hand effectively.

However, Young, who won the vacant International Masters middleweight title at the end of last month, says he would never offer an excuse for defeat, because he would not fight without being fully fit.

“If I had any injuries or I just didn’t feel right about fighting, I would pull out, even if I’d sold a lot of tickets,” he said.

“I’ve said this to Keith (Mayo, promoter), there’s no point risking it. If David Haye had a broken toe then he should have just called the fight off.

“If that was me and I had a world title up for grabs, I would just pull out of the fight, there’s another time you can do it.

“If it was the other way round and I was fighting for a world title and I had something to gain and nothing to lose then I’d give it a go, but he had something to lose.”

Young also felt Haye’s subsequent revelations did not do him any favours with British boxing fans.

“Coming out with the excuses after didn’t do him any justice really,” said the 24-year-old.

“He could have just held his hands up and said he got beat by a better man, instead of coming out and saying he had a broken toe.

“I admired him as a boxer and admired his punch power and the fact he was a top amateur.

“I was rooting for him to beat Wladimir, but it didn’t happen. Obviously he came up against the best heavyweight in the division and got beat, there’s no disgrace in that.”