HAYEMAKER OR TEDDY BEAR? CALLARD'S VERDICT ON 'THE HAYEMAKER' SPARKS DEBATE!

Well, this one’s a proper head-scratcher, isn't it? David ‘The Hayemaker’ Haye, the man who brought cruiserweight and heavyweight titles back to Blighty, now being labelled a 'great big teddy bear'. You read that right. According to Beverley Callard, the Coronation Street legend, Haye’s got a softer side. This isn't exactly the image we’ve come to expect from the man who once promised to ‘decapitate’ opponents. We’re talking about a fighter who stood toe-to-toe with Wladimir Klitschko and stopped Enzo Maccarinelli cold. A teddy bear? Our lads on the cobbles are having a right laugh about it.

Now, every fighter’s got layers. Even the hardest blokes like Lennox Lewis or Nigel Benn had their moments away from the squared circle. But to hear ‘The Hayemaker’ described like he’s ready for a cuddle rather than a proper tear-up? It just doesn't sit right with the brutal, explosive power we saw in his prime. This isn't a knock on Haye, mind. He's a British boxing icon, no doubt. But the Evening Standard's report on Callard’s comments has certainly got the boxing faithful talking. Is it a testament to his post-fight evolution, or just a bit of celebrity fluff? We like our fighters fierce, with a warrior's spirit. A teddy bear? We’ll stick to remembering the Hayemaker who brought the thunder. Let's hope he's still got that fire, should he ever lace 'em up again, even for a charity bout. Proper fighters aren't made of stuffing.