David Haye has marked his 31st birthday by releasing a statement to officially announce his retirement from boxing.

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

That defeat was Haye's first in seven years and left his record at 25-2.

"I've always said I'm not going to fight into my 31st year - and here we are, I'm 31 and that's it," Haye told Sky Sports News.

"I love boxing, I love training, but you've got to call it a day sooner or later. I've seen many fighters go on way too long. I'm healthy, in my prime, there's no damage - so why not?

"A lot of boxers end up getting injured and hurt. People always say 'one too many fights' - I never wanted to be that guy."

Haye denied that the announcement is one last piece of brinkmanship to tempt the Klitschko brothers into giving him a lucrative fight. The Klitschkos' promoter Bernd Boente claimed on Tuesday amid reports of Haye's impending retirement that he was in talks with the Briton's trainer and manager Adam Booth about a bout with Vitali Klitschko in 2012.

"If this was something I had decided last week, then yeah! But I've been saying this for years," he added.

"Adam Booth and I sat down before I turned professional and we said we wanted to win as many titles as I could... I won those titles, went up to heavyweight and fought guys a lot bigger and stronger and found a way to beat them. Unfortunately I wasn't able to beat Wladimir.

"I'd love nothing better than to knock Vitali Klitschko out... [but] Adam had talks with Bernd and told me that they believe I'm just another challenger out there. Let them carry on fighting the guys they're used to fighting.

"I know what I bring to the table - I understand they are businessmen [and want to get the best possible deal], but I don't have to be part of that anymore."

Before joining the heavyweight division, Haye was the unified cruiserweight champion.

The British Boxing Board of Control announced this week that Haye had indicated he would not seek to renew his licence in December.

Eurosport