Ricky Hatton doesn't think that WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will be taking David Haye 's recent call out very seriously.
The 40-year-old Haye came out of retirement to outpoint his close friend Joe Fournier this past weekend on the undercard of Evander Holyfield vs Vitor Belfort.
Haye said he didn't want to let his hands go on the night as he feared it would make Fury turn down a fight with him.
Fury's promoter Frank Warren has since played down a fight between Haye and Fury unless Haye gets a ranking by beating some top heavyweights.
And fellow British ring legend Hatton was also critical of Haye's recent call out.
He wrote for the Metro : “I wouldn’t have thought Tyson Fury would be taking David Haye’s call out very seriously.
“David Haye is a friend of mine, I think the world of him, but it was clear to see in his last fights with Tony Bellew [in 2017 and 2018] that his best days are clearly behind him. Tyson Fury in his last fight was at the top of the game! We can’t allow that to happen.
“Evander Holyfield says he wants to fight Mike Tyson next, David Haye wants to fight Tyson Fury… I think the world of David Haye, but sorry, no. They need saving from themselves.
“The boxer’s health is always the priority. And if we allow Tyson Fury to fight David Haye and Evander Holyfield to fight Mike Tyson, we are putting boxers at real risk. So I don’t care whether it is their choice. We need to save boxers for the sake of their health.
Celebrity boxing has been on the rise in the past year and Hatton said that he was recently offered an exhibition fight.
The 42-year-old retired from boxing in 2012 and has admitted he is tempted by a return to the ring.
What do you make of Haye's call out of Fury? Let us know in the comments section below
Meanwhile, Fury is set to defend his heavyweight title in a trilogy fight against Deontay Wilder on October 9.
And Hatton thinks that Haye - who wouldn't fight again unless it was against Fury - has not improved since he retired from boxing in 2018.
He continued: “These fighters feel great in the gym, but they don’t look great in the ring. David Haye looks in superb condition, he is a pure athlete and there is no doubt he probably does feel good.
"But he fought Tony Bellew a good few years ago now and it was clear he was past his best.
“I don’t think anything has improved since he’s been out. Tyson Fury just destroyed Deontay Wilder with the best performance of his career! David, you need to behave yourself.”
