By Scott Gilfoid: Former two division world champion David Haye (26-2, 24 KO’s) is making slow progress with his shoulder rehab after having had shoulder surgery last year. The 33-year-old Haye has been rehabbing his right shoulder for the past five months, but he’s still not able to throw any punches, which is pretty normal. Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy took an entire year off after tearing up his left shoulder in a win over Vitaliy Tsypko in 2006. Lacy didn’t come back until a year later, but without the huge power that he once had in his left hook.
If Haye isn’t able to throw his right hand without a lot of power, he’ll still have his left hook to rely on, which is more than what a lot of fighters have. However, it won’t bode well for him when he takes on talents like Deontay Wilder, because if all Haye has is a left hook, Deontay will tee off on him without any worry. With Deontay’s power, it only takes a couple of hard shots to take out an opponent. For that reason, Haye might want to steer clear of Wilder when/if he returns to action at some point in the distant future.
Haye said on his website “I’ve had now around 5 months of rehabilitation, and the effects of such a program means, I have full range of movement, and there are not many everyday things I can’t do perfectly,” Haye said. “Obviously punching is not a “everyday thing” but I’m not far away from doing some very light shadow boxing to test it ever so gently. I now have 6 pins holding my shoulder together, after full reconstructive surgery. Scars have healed, and I’m feeling positive.
“No decisions have been made with regards my future as a professional boxer. But I’m in the gym every day, religiously doing the programme set out by my Physio. I’ve yet to work on the pads with Adam Booth or throw any “Hayemakers”, but I don’t feel a million miles away!!”
This sounds like Haye likely will need a full year, and possibly more for him to get his shoulder in shape enough for him to return to action. Like I said, I’m not sure if Haye’s power will ever return, but he’ll still be able to get some good domestic level paydays against the likes of Tyson Fury, Dereck Chisora and Anthony Joshua. Those fights will bring Haye good money and they would be basically toss up fights for him.
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