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HAYE WANTS TO DO A FOREMAN ON ‘ALI’ AJ..IF HE BEATS BELLEW

DAVID HAYE believes he can be to Anthony Joshua what Muhammad Ali was to George Foreman.

The former heavyweight world champion insists he can regain his crown once he avenges his defeat by Tony Bellew.

He is convinced he can upset Joshua in the same way Ali shocked Foreman in their ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ back in 1974.

Haye said: “Anthony Joshua is the biggest name and if I want to be the best then I have to fight the guy with the highest profile, the biggest name and the most belts.

“I’d be the huge, huge underdog going into that fight, I’m aware of that. He is 10 years younger, three inches taller and three stone heavier.

“It’s like Muhammad Ali fighting George Foreman – Ali had lost to Ken Norton and Joe Frazier and Foreman had knocked them both out.

“Ali was old, he was finished and allegedly past his prime, but somehow he turned the tables. He beat the monster that was George Foreman when he was past his prime and that solidified his legacy.”

Haye was stopped by Bellew in the 11th round last March having ruptured his Achilles earlier in the fight. Their rematch was scheduled for December, but Haye pulled out after tearing a bicep in training. And he claims even victory on May 5 could see him retire from the ring. He added: “A medium day is not good enough, it might be good enough to beat Bellew, but beating Joshua, Deontay Wilder, Joseph Parker or anyone else who holds a title, would be so far out of my reach, what’s the point?

“Bellew offers a barometer, but it is not just the win. If I knock him out in three rounds, but suffer a cut or knockdown and it is a real battle, I will know.

“If I do take him out in a destructive way and make it look like a complete mismatch then I see I can start looking at titles.”