David Haye: 'Criticism over Tyson Fury withdrawal was fair'

Former world heavyweight champion David Haye has admitted that he only has himself to blame for the criticism he received for twice withdrawing from a match with Tyson Fury.

Haye suffered a severe cut just a week before their first contest, while he sustained a serious shoulder injury in the build-up to their second scheduled encounter.

The two pull-outs resulted in Haye being widely criticised by the British public, who had been excited for the biggest British heavyweight showdown for many years, but the two-weight world titlist has insisted that the abuse he endured was justified.

The 33-year-old is quoted by The Independent as saying: "I think a lot of the criticism that I've had as a result of that is fair. It's like paying to watch a movie and then the projector breaks down.

"I've given Fury ammunition to claim that I'm ducking fighting him, too, and I've only got myself to blame. To be as injury-prone as much as me isn't bad luck. It's the way that I've trained in the past."

Haye has revealed that he is targeting a return to the ring later this year.