By Edward Chaykovsky

Two division world champion David Haye (28-2, 26KOs) is brushing off the trash talk from former WBO heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs.

A few days ago, Briggs (60-6-1, 53KOs) lashed out at Haye, claiming the British heavyweight has fallen off the map and stopped returning his calls for a fight.

Haye (28-2, 26KOs) and Briggs were both in action on May 21 at the O2 Arena in London, when they picked up easy knockout wins against overmatched opponents. The show was viewed as used a tool to hype up a Haye-Briggs showdown for the fall. Prior that event, Haye promised Briggs a fight in the fall - if the veteran fought on his undercard and got a big knockout win.

  

Haye has been inactive for several years and only had three rounds rounds of non-competitive fighting since knocking out Dereck Chisora in 2012. He snapped his layoff in January of this year.

The two fighters had a near confrontation last month, when Briggs attempted to approach Haye at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Both fighters were in the building to sit ringside for Leo Santa Cruz vs. Carl Frampton.

Briggs took to the social networks to blast Haye for vanishing from their discussions.

"Look at him softer than a cheese biscuit. What's his excuse now? I fought on your show. I did my part. I showed up. The people came out. The WBA are giving you a title shot I heard. Say what you want but I ain't boring. Be a man Davey. Come out and play," Briggs stated.

Haye is not taking the bait, although nobody really knows as of yet what the Hayemaker is planning to do with his career.

"I have learned over the years it’s best to simply ignore it and rise above. People who direct negativity towards another are often struggling with their own insecurities, and retaliation to these people only gives them a sense of worth and purpose," Haye said.

"As a kid it used to hurt my feelings when the “haters” said disrespectful things about me, but with age and experience one learns how to shield this negativity. It can take a lifetime to build a monument, but only one single match to burn it all down in hours. Many people in our society (particularly on social media) spend much of their time diminishing others’ flames to give their weak flame the allusion of it appearing brighter. I’m confident in my body of work inside and outside of the ring, no one can rightfully use words to bring me down for the count."