Tuesday 15 August 2017 14:49, UK
David Haye did not show any signs of an Achilles injury before his defeat to Tony Bellew, says sparring partner Bryant Jennings.
The 36-year-old former heavyweight champion ruptured his Achilles tendon during his 11th round stoppage loss to Bellew at The O2 in March.
As part of his preparations, Haye has sparred a number of rounds with former world title challenger Jennings, and the American insists he "wasn't even aware" of any fitness problems.
"The secrecy within camp - I always keep secrets to me - but I can tell you for sure that it did not happen in the ring with me," Jennings told Sky Sports. "I know that for sure.
"I wasn't even aware of an injury, but if anything was to stem from it, that's something that I don't know about, that's something that I'm not sure of.
I wasn't even aware of an injury, but if anything was to stem from it, that's something that I don't know about.
"But I know for sure that we did our rounds, and we completed our rounds and went on about our day. We continued to do what we needed to do throughout the duration of the time and until the fight."
Haye's hopes of victory were shattered as he sustained the serious injury in the sixth round and Jennings believes the Londoner showed his courage by fighting through the pain.
"The injury was surprising," said Jennings, who returns to action this weekend on the undercard for Terence Crawford's unification clash with Julius Indongo, live on Sky Sports.
"I think he did a very good job. There are things which I think he could have done better, but I'm not the one feeling the injury. I don't know how the injury feels.
"That has to be the most excruciating pain, period, so I think he did a very good job."
Jennings would again offer his services as a sparring partner if Haye pushes ahead with plans to fight again later this year.
He said: "I enjoyed myself in sparring. We are two very athletic individuals and we got it in.
"I would definitely do that again. Me and David Haye are great friends. David is my boy. I would definitely do it again, just for him, no other reason. Doing anything to help him out, I'm there."
