From The Times
May 15, 2009
Owen Slot, Chief Sports Reporter in north Cyprus
David Haye revelling in splendid isolation
Haye first trained near Kyrenia two years ago and enjoys the undisturbed focus he gets there, as well as the sunshine
The olives are ripening and the lemons are getting plump, and here in the hills of north Cyprus one of the Britain’s great hopes for the ring is also close to perfect condition. In five weeks’ time, David Haye makes an audacious bid to become heavyweight champion of the world, a bid that commenced in Bermondsey, southeast London, that he hopes to complete in Germany and that has been perfected in the Cypriot sun, where the idea of international sport, almost by definition, fails to exist.
That is pretty much where the love-in ends. Haye lives and trains not far from Kyrenia, a harbour town from where most Britons were evacuated after the Turkish invasion in 1974. He understands barely a syllable from the locals; they pat him on the back and understand barely a word of his.
When Haye and Booth first came here two years ago, Haye assumed it was “a tourist destination with lager louts”. However, he loved the climate, the quiet and that property was very cheap, and he decided to plant his flag.
They then decided to put down roots and build properly. They rebuilt it from scratch, complete with a small kitchen, two bedsits for sparring partners and three marble-floored showers that are quite possibly Haye’s favourite topic of conversation.
He and Booth have villas ten minutes away. From their homes, there is no humanity for half a mile and the nearest shop is another mile away. Last week they launched the local new tenpin bowling alley, but the distractions are few.
With five weeks to go, Booth says that “cabin fever” has set in. But perfect isolation is alleviated by the growing outpost of little England.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 289384.ece
Hmm ....
