David Haye to donate ticket sales to Nick Blackwell to help with British boxer's recovery from injury

Haye is hoping to raise over £50,000 by giving 10 per cent of ticket sales generated from his fight against Arnold Gjergjaj to recently retired boxer Blackwell

David Haye faces Arnold Gjerjaj at London's O2 Arena this weekend (Getty)

Former heavyweight world champion David Haye will donate 10 per cent of the ticket sales generated from his bout with Arnold Gjergjaj this weekend to recently retired boxer Nick Blackwell.

25-year-old Blackwell suffered serious head injuries during his defeat by Chris Eubank Jr in March, leaving the middleweight in a medically induced coma with a bleed on the brain. Blackwell has since made a recovery, but confirmed that he had retired after the bout.

Haye has held talks with Blackwell, and the 35-year-old former WBA world heavyweight champion has revealed he hopes to raise over £50,000 for Blackwell when he takes on Gjergjaj at the O2 Arena this weekend.

"I had a good chat with him. He is in good spirits and sounds as sharp as a tack," said heavyweight Haye.

"I was worried about how Nick was going to be but he sounds better than ever.

"It's really good knowing he's coming to the fight to do a bit of commentary.

"I am not sure how much it will be but I've been aiming to get at least £50,000, that would be a nice lump to help him move on."


 Nick Blackwell, left, was left with serious head injuries 
 (Rex)

Haye returned to the ring in January in a one-sided affair against Mark de Mori, with the Australian suffering a first-round knockout defeat by a much bigger Haye. The Englishman has bulked up in a bid to close the gap to the larger men currently ruling the heavyweight division, but Haye dismissed concerns expressed by former undisputed world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis that his extra size is hindering his speed, which has always been Haye’s strong point.

"My speed feels as quick as ever, if not faster. If I was fighting Anthony Joshua, I would do the same training,” Haye added.

My speed feels as quick as ever, if not faster. If I was fighting Anthony Joshua, I would do the same training

&#13; <p>David Haye</p>&#13;

"I'm stronger now than ever. I've done a nice solid strength programme in camp to maintain my weight. I am about 103kgs now. I was about 108kgs a month ago, and as I have sped up, my weight has just come down."

While Gjergjaj is undefeated in his 29 career fights, Haye is expected to come through the bout unscathed with a match against Shannon Briggs of the United States already lined up for later in the year.

Briggs is due to fight on the Haye undercard this weekend, although he has admitted that he has no idea who he will face after his opponent, Alexander Dimitrenko, pulled out of the fight. Croatian journeyman Jakov Gospic is being touted as a possible late replacement.