“We weren’t right for each other” – David Haye and trainer Shane McGuigan split

Former two-weight world champion David Haye [28(26)-3(2)] has announced this afternoon that he is to part company with Irish trainer Shane McGuigan.

The former unified cruiserweight champion and heavyweight titlist has trained under McGuigan for a the past two years as he embarked on a comeback following over three years out of the sport.

With McGuigan in his corner Haye would score two easy wins against Mark de Mori and Arnold Gjergjaj before being involved in a massive pay-per-view grudge match with then-WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew. A massive favourite beforehand, the Londoner would fall to a surprise defeat here, with a ruptured Achilles tendon in the sixth round playing a substantial part in an eventual eleventh round stoppage loss.

Haye intends to continue fighting once his injury heals, but he will do so without McGuigan, eight years his junior, in the corner.

A statement released by Haye today read:

“Shane and I have come to the mutual decision that when I am ready to go back into full raining camp, we will no longer be working together as boxer and coach. We remain good friends and will always metaphorically be in each other’s corner but both parties agreed moving forward we weren’t right for each other. ”

“I remain deeply indebted to Shane for playing a pivotal role in my comeback to date. I will be forever grateful for his hard work and tutelage. I would not be in the position I am today without this. Last Saturday he once again proved his world-class credentials by leading George Groves to become a World Champion, something which has evaded Groves’ former corner teams for nearly a decade.”

“I wish Shane, his stable of fighters and everyone at Cyclone Promotions the best of luck in the future – they are set to have an explosive few months.”

Of Haye, McGuigan would comment that “I wish him all the success in his future endeavours,” and that “we remain good friends.”