A lot of emotions were in the air on Saturday night.
Some viewers were furious after paying £20 to watch David Haye, who has become a spent force, dominated by Tony Bellew over five rounds. Bellew moved many fans to tears with his heart-wrenching victory speech in which he dedicated the performance to his late brother-in-law. Those close to Haye were crushed to see the career of a former world champion disintegrate in front of their eyes.
It was an emotional evening.
And the beating that Bellew was dishing out to Haye became too much for the latter’s former coach, Gary Logan, who couldn’t bring himself to watch the inevitable stoppage.
Logan, who trained Haye between 2011 and 2014 along with Adam Booth, admitted that he had to leave London’s O2 Arena early.
Can’t read about it for awhile and very much doubt I’ll ever watch it again! I got up and left arena at end of 4th rnd and heard result as I got outside. Congrats to Tony but a sad day for all who knew the Hayemaker at his best. https://t.co/sXkn1BbzMH
— Gary Logan (@GaryLogan68) May 6, 2018
Known David since he was 15…been a (sometimes frustrating😊)pleasure to witness road to world titles/stardom. Always sad when fighters go too long. Too common a thing in history of boxing. In last 40yrs only Lennox,Money and Ward have gone at the top!!☹️ https://t.co/adGafBPGSg
— Gary Logan (@GaryLogan68) May 6, 2018
“Can’t read about it for a while and very much doubt I’ll ever watch it again,” Logan tweeted.
“I got up and left arena at the end of the 4th round and heard result as I got outside.”
In all likelihood, Saturday night was the last we’ve seen of Haye as his body is seemingly incapable of pulling off what his mind wants to do.
The boxing community is universally hoping that ‘The Hayemaker’ decides to hang up his gloves because the reward of one more payday is not worth the health risks.
“He will go down better than I was, but styles make fights,” Bellew said after his victory.
“I said to him, ‘Please, stop now.’ This is a very unforgiving sport. Fighters like Bernard Hopkins can go on because their style is not based on reflexes and timing. Boxing does not favor boxers over 35 who rely on reflexes. He doesn’t have the speed or explosiveness that he once had.”
