David Haye is learning that being world heavyweight champion often means being haunted by the past. Yesterday, as Haye talked about the first defence of his WBA title against John Ruiz next month, websites in the United States were alive with gossip of a comeback by Mike Tyson.

The 43-year-old, who was once the youngest heavyweight champion in history, last boxed in 2005, looking a pitiful sight as he quit on his stool against Kevin McBride. In recent times he has looked overweight, but he has heavy debts and comebacks are often talked of.

The latest rumours suggest that he will return towards the end of the year, possibly in a third bout against Evander Holyfield, part of whose ear he bit off in 1997. Haye says that Tyson should not box again. “It would be a sad spectacle,” Haye said. “I’ve never met Mike Tyson, but looking at his physical condition, there is no way he should think about boxing.

“His last fights were quite sad and the only reason he would be coming back would be for the money. He would not be fighting because he had anything to prove. Tyson did it all, but it was 20-odd years ago that he was in his prime.”

While Haye, 29, cannot foresee a bout against Tyson, he says he will have his hands full with Ruiz, whom he faces at the MEN Arena, Manchester, on April 3, a bout that will be screened live in HD on Sky Box Office.

Ruiz, 38, held the WBA title twice, but Haye insists that he is not looking past the American to potential unification bouts against Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko. “He’s got a new trainer and you don’t change trainers if you are just coming for the payday,” said Haye, who won the title from Nikolay Valuev in November. “But I have to look impressive in winning. I want to stop him. I want to beat him the way Lennox Lewis would have beaten him.”

Wladimir Klitschko defends his WBO, IBF and IBO titles against Eddie Chambers on March 20 and is then due to face Alexander Povetkin, the 2004 Olympic super-heavyweight champion from Russia, making a bout against big brother Vitali, the WBC champion, a more likely prospect for Haye, although Vitali, 38, has spoken of retiring this year.

“The Klitschkos need to fight me to secure their legacy, it’s not a case of me needing to qualify to face them,” Haye said. “Vitali is a good athlete and there are not too many miles on the clock. I don’t think he is going anywhere yet.”

• Andy Morris seeks to become a two-weight British champion in Huddersfield tonight when the Mancunian, a former British featherweight champion, faces the unbeaten Gary Sykes for the vacant super-featherweight title. Tyson Fury, the unbeaten heavyweight prospect, returns from six months out with a hand injury to face Hans-Jörg Blasko, of Germany, on the same bill.