PALast night, millions of freeview TV owners everywhere tuned into one of heavyweight boxing’s biggest farces – David Haye’s second round knockout over his unheard of opponent Arnold Gjergjaj.
In the second fight of his comeback, Haye fought yet another rank outsider who he was definitely, definitely always going to beat well before the opening bell even rang.
Why? Because Gjergjaj was carefully picked out as an opponent to make Haye look great. Gjergjaj’s record was impeccable. 29 fights, 29 wins. But he was fighting opponents far below the boxing calibre of David Haye.
And that isn’t to say Haye is fantastic. He isn’t, and that was proved in his infamous fight against Klitschko in 2011. But he’s spent the past 14-years fighting close to the top tier of the heavyweight division. Gjergjaj, on the other hand, hasn’t.
THE KNOCKOUT MOMENT. Thanks for staying with us. #Hayeday https://t.co/GItztNJ6n7
— Dave (@davechannel) May 21, 2016
Fighting only in his home country, the ‘Kobra’, as he’s known, has only ever fought two guys with a Wikipedia page.
No disrespect to him, but it isn’t hard to see he was no more than a club fighter chosen carefully for Haye to take out.
As expected, Haye finished Gjergjaj off in the second with a flurry of punches, but thankfully Twitter users across the globe picked up pretty quickly on the reality behind the fight.
Here’s some of our favourites:
Been following boxing since I was 4 years old, but tonight was one of the worst boxing bills I have seen #HayeDay
— StevenHartleyonline (@StevenPHartley) May 21, 2016
That #HayeDay spectacle was an embarrassment to boxing.
— Feed Me (@feedme) May 21, 2016
From world champ to beating up a billboard on a comedy channel while wearing a nappy. #HayeDay
— Sunny (@sunnycivilian) May 21, 2016
Next up for Haye: a 72 year old asthmatic named Clive #HayeDay
— ForMiles (@WelcomeRapture) May 21, 2016
No wonder Fury's not interested. It's embarrassing for Haye and boxing in general #HayeDay
— Mark Preston (@MPres1) May 21, 2016
“@Join_Dave: And the winner is… @MRDAVIDHAYE. #Hayeday https://t.co/IweImHw41P”. Stop fighting bums, it's embarrassing to the sport.
— Paul melia (@paulmelia4) May 21, 2016
#HayeDay don't blame Kosovan milkman. Blame Haye who booked him and the sport which permits this. Farce. Sham.
— David Payne (@TheBoxingWriter) May 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/Mxnreal/status/734130241455706112
https://twitter.com/Mxnreal/status/734120016661057537
To be fair Gjergjaj had beaten some impressive opponents, such as a statue, a traffic cone, a sandwich board and Audley Harrison #HayeDay
— Anthony Hart (@anthonyhart1109) May 21, 2016
David Haye seemed pretty happy with himself but he was about the only person pleased with the fight:
? ? ? ? ? #HayeDay https://t.co/tttFmka9g0
— David Haye (@mrdavidhaye) May 21, 2016
On the undercard was 44-year-old Shannon Briggs, fighting against Argentinian Emilio Zarate, who he demolished inside of the first round.
It’s now thought that Haye will fight Briggs before the end of the year.
I've seen Hollyoaks storylines more realistic than this Haye/Briggs feud. #hayeday
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) May 21, 2016
Oh what I’d pay to see Haye in a ring with Jack Dempsey.
Just give it up Dave will you? You’re not fooling anybody…
