HAYE AND GJERGJAJ PHOTO BY AYODELE ODUMADE

DAVID HAYE TO FACE ARNOLD GJERGJAJ

BY AYODELE ODUMADE AT GROSVENOR HOUSE LONDON

Former World Heavyweight Champion David Haye will face unbeaten Arnold Gjergjaj of Kosovo, in his next fight on May 21 at the O2 Arena in London. David said: “It is nice to get back so soon. I want to fight regularly and bring boxing to the masses.”   He went on further to say: “ I wanted to get an opponent who is bigger than me and undefeated.  He is fast and can move. I also wanted an opponent who is taller than me.”

Gjergjaj is 29-0.  David Haye said:” I am speaking to a number of free to air channels.”  He touched on the fight between Nick Blackwell and Chris Eubank Jr, which attracted a lot of viewers over the weekend.  However the fight ended in near tragedy as Blackwell collapsed after the fight with bleeding on the brain. Haye said: “ It left a bitter taste in my mouth and people are now talking about whether boxing should be banned again. Everyone wishes Blackwell a speedy recovery. I am going to donate 10% of my ticket sales to Blackwell. I know if my career stopped 25 years of age I would have had to get a regular job.”

As promoter was speaking to discuss the undercard an invited guest, American Shannon Briggs stormed the venue and posed a challenge to David Haye.  He screamed: “Lets go champ! I am in the best shape of my life and I am 44.  Who is this guy you are fighting? Who are you champ?”  However Haye replied: “If you can pass a brain scan in England we could do this. You pass your medical and get a brain scan then will talk about it.”

Briggs might have a point, as Gjergjag is not ranked by any of the four main boxing organizations.  The same was said about Haye’s last opponent Mark De Mori, but the show was a sellout and 3 million people tuned in on terrestrial TV.   However it is disturbing that Briggs who was knocked out by the likes of Lennox Lewis many years ago and is 44, still thinks he can be a credible challenger to anyone.

Tickets to Haye Day at The O2 on May 21 are available on general sale now via www.theo2.co.uk