Haye set to retire from boxing

Tue, 11 Oct 14:02:00 2011

Former world heavyweight champion David Haye is set to retire from boxing after not renewing his licence.

David Haye of Britain celebrates after defeating Russia's WBA heavyweight boxing world champion Nikolai Valuev during their WBA title fight in Nuremberg, REUTERS - 0

Haye, who has long maintained he would not fight beyond his 31st birthday, which falls on Thursday, lost his WBA world title on points to Vladimir Klitschko in a unification bout in his last fight in July.

"I can confirm that Mr. Haye is not renewing his professional boxer's licence," Board general secretary Robert Smith told Reuters.

The retirement plans were questioned by the Klitschko camp with promoter Bernd Boente saying Haye's manager Adam Booth had told him "five minutes ago" the Briton would return to the ring if there was a fight against either of the Klitschko brothers.

"The option is still there. It really depends only on the business case," he told Sky Sports News. "We are in constant contact, we are still awaiting some numbers from British TV and then we'll see if the business case is realistic."

He said Vladimir's older brother Vitali, the WBC world heavyweight champion, was the most likely opponent and that if a fight was to take place it would be in February or March.

"A rematch (with Vladimir) makes no sense because there are no questions after the first fight, you can only promote a fight if there is a thrill," Boente said.

"Against Vitali it's a different thing, Vitali has a totally different style. Vitali said after the fight he wanted to finish what his brother didn't do, meaning knock out David Haye."

Haye, whose trash-talking before the July fight angered both Klitschkos, blamed the defeat on a broken toe and had suggested he would be prepared to postpone retirement if the Ukrainian agreed to a swift rematch.

That defeat was Haye's first in seven years and left his record at 25-2. Before joining the heavyweight division, Haye was the unified cruiserweight champion.

Haye's representatives were not immediately available for comment but local media reported the Briton was planning a news conference for Thursday.

The Klitschkos hold all the major championship belts in the division. The brothers have said they would not fight each other.

Eurosport

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  1. "Haye set to retire from boxing" I really­ don't care

    From MARK, on Mon 17 Oct 1:02

  2. This might be just to raise the offer from Vitali to­ fight him... Vitali is still today trying to get Lewis­ to fight him!!

    From Mark, on Wed 12 Oct 6:58

  3. He could talk the talk but could not quite walk the­ walk. He was a very good cruiserweight the undisputed­ champ he probably will go down as one best fighters­ in britain Never a real heavyweight. A fight against­ vitali will be a tough fight for haye and it most­ likely will end in the same result as the wladimir­ fight .Fair play to him, getting out of boxing and­ sticking to his plan.

    From Matt, on Wed 12 Oct 6:46

  4. I would once of called myself a David Haye fan but the­ way he has conducted himself in the last couple of­ years has really disappointed me. I've paid to see­ him box a few times and I believed he had what it took­ to really test the Klitschko's but if he retires­ now he'll be admitting that was never true, in­ which case I'll be glad to see the back of him. I­ understand some fighters feel the need to talk up a­ storm to generate publicity but the time has long since­ past for Haye to put up or shut up. I just can't­ understand how he can talk all that smack about a­ legacy and retire after those last two fights. I guess­ maybe he just meant a financial legacy.

    From Sam, on Wed 12 Oct 5:44

  5. There is no doubt that David Haye is an exceptional­ boxer, but sadly he is not a heavyweight in the terms­ of the 21st Century specs, you need to be around­ 6ft3" tall and weight in at a lean 17st or­ more.

    I always found him an exciting prospect in the­ ring and against above average heavyweights his class­ he was able to win in style. Case in point it's not­ as embarrassing as Hyde Vs Bowe but world class­ heavyweights in their prime is just a step too­ far.

    Either unify the Cruisers or retire knowing that­ you mad some serious cash and we enjoyed the journey­ with you - to try again at this division would only­ soil a reasonable legacy.

    Regardless the Heavyweight­ division is a total joke now, you have two guys at the­ top and a chuffin huge skill gap to those below them -­ Heavyweight division post Tyson and Lewis has proven to­ be as corrupt as Rupert Murcdoch and as stupid as­ paying for a sky sport package.... we are 10-15yrs away­ from making this an enterntaining division once more,­ maybe longer unless we all stop paying for subscription­ sports.

    From Andrew, on Wed 12 Oct 5:14

  6. i dont understand haye!!! he said before the fight with­ the wladimir that he wants to help heavy weight boxing­ by destroying these robots!!, then he loses then­ retires? i reckon he would of retired if he won­ anyway so how is he helping the heavyweight division!!

    From johnny, on Wed 12 Oct 5:01

  7. He done what was right for him only he can make that­ choice I have been friends with some lonsdale ex boxers­ and other good fighters and to be honest they all were­ punch drunk in some way sad to see, but it's there­ will to do it good on them

    From big toby, on Wed 12 Oct 5:01

  8. them 2 lumps wot not have stood toe to toe with the­ likes of holyfield tyson or lewis in a month of­ sunday,s give your heads a shake

    From BRIAN, on Wed 12 Oct 4:59

  9. Ther's onley been one boxer who could shout his­ mouth off and back it up and that was Clay,end of­ story.

    From Leslie j, on Wed 12 Oct 4:59

  10. After his last fight (the bore fest) who cares?

    From barrykearney1, on Wed 12 Oct 4:52

  11. lennox lewis was vastly underated a gr8 heavyweight­ fast and very mobile and a gr8 punch anybody who thinks­ other wise knows fa about the sport ,stick to dominoes

    From linda, on Wed 12 Oct 4:38

  12. haye can talk the talk but he cant walk the walk

    From linda, on Wed 12 Oct 4:36

  13. fought his last few fights with an eye on the­ purse,slippers on and so forth,good luck to him,would­ never have lived with the stable of the 70's,tyson­ of the 80's

    From Den, on Wed 12 Oct 4:27

  14. ill fight him for $30m no dramas

    From ALEX, on Wed 12 Oct 4:04

  15. Xntertainer...I agree the Klitschos would have beaten­ Holyfield,
    but there again i never rated Lewis.Tell me­ what great heavyweight
    has been poleaxed twice by­ average opposition.Ibelieve the second tier
    of­ heavyweights,such as­ Shavers,Bonevena,Norton,Witherspoon etc,
    would have­ fared well now.

    From swiper, on Wed 12 Oct 3:51

  16. Maybe he got some sort of toe cancer?

    From anonymous, on Wed 12 Oct 3:40

  17. David Haye provided Wladimir Klitschko with the most­ competitive fight he has had in the last 3 years. I­ can't think of a fighter either of the­ Klitschko's have fought that was any good since­ 2008.

    Adamek had to be the best. Solis, Peter,­ Johnson, Chambers , Rahman, Briggs and Arreola cannot­ be considered to be high quality opposition.

    He­ didn't give himself a chance to really grow into­ heavyweight and we now know he wanted to achive short­ term goals so good luck to him.

    I just hope Tyson Fury­ can develop and give the Klitschko's a proper­ beating...

    From Ray, on Wed 12 Oct 3:38

  18. whos bothered oh dont tell me george foremans coming­ back to the ring AGAIN its all a money making fix if­ your gonna retire then retire and stop pissing about­ ...

    From PAUL, on Wed 12 Oct 3:30

  19. Swiper...really? So who would be in your Top 20?­ Because IF Holyfield is mentioned, even at his prime,­ Vitali Klitschko would certainly have defeated him. And­ in reference to that Lewis fight....having also­ downloaded the podcast from HBO Boxing, I still have no­ doubt in my mind that Vitali had taken a beating, but­ was finishing the stronger. BOTH Boxers had their jaws­ open and struggling for air. But Lewis was sapping his­ strength in the first half of the Rounds and Vitali was­ ending stronger in the second. Had they have heard the­ final bell, I wouldn't be surprised if it would­ have been a draw. But remember, Lewis had lost to­ Rahman only a year before Klitschko (if quickly­ amended). AND did you know Vitali took the Lewis fight­ with just 3 weeks notice?! Imagine if he had PROPERLY­ prepared!?

    From The Xentertainer, on Wed 12 Oct 3:15

  20. Haye was never a Heavyweight - the weight, height and­ power difference was incredible. it would have been­ miraculous if he had pulled it off. But as a Boxer he­ is better than Klitchkos. In his division he did­ dominate.

    Both of these division have stagnated as­ has boxing overall. If it wasn't for the lower­ weight division. Boxing would be near the end of its­ life.

    Those demeaning Haye OBVIOUSLY have not got a­ clue about boxing. Haye unlike - Ali, Louis and etc­ those who went on for too long - has done the right­ thing and played it smart.

    From Mohammed A, on Wed 12 Oct 3:12
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