The Sun reports David Haye has retired

[Tunney]

The Sun is reporting David Haye has handed in his boxing liscense.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... oxing.html

[Karl Jade]

No loss.

[broomy7s]

Doesn't suprise me, he'll be back tho when he realises he can't just walk into the acting world.

[grannyman]

No loss.

I disagree. I'd like to see two or three more from him, I enjoyed watching his cruiserweight career and I think one loss at heavy hardly makes him a mug.

[Coco]

I was never aware you could 'hand in' your boxing license??

[Final round]

The BBBofC received an email on Monday advising Haye would not be carrying on.

[FIGHTFANs]

Sad to see him go.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/oc ... sfeed=true

[Glyn Leach]

Sad to see him go.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/oc ... sfeed=true

I wonder if Smith has overstepped the mark here. Wouldn't Haye rather have made the announcement himself?

[Poncey]

Sad to see him go.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/oc ... sfeed=true

I wonder if Smith has overstepped the mark here. Wouldn't Haye rather have made the announcement himself?

I agree Glyn. A little suspicious this might be a hoax.

Do they keep fights e-mails as part of registration info?

[LeedsLad]

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

Outside the ring his behaviour has been an embarrassment, and inside the ring he could have put a glass eye to sleep since he moved up to heavyweight.

[Terminator666]

Yeah-No loss, he failed to deliver his promises in two heavyweight title fights and was looking for another easy big payday which he has not managed.

[tear up]

havin brought so much joy and ended up going out like that broken toe all he wanted was the cheque his 10 million and didnt like the run up when he said about his fans doing it for himself you fight for your fans

[JamesH]

Fickle as ever.

If this is the end of Haye's career, then it's time for some sensible analysis on it. He came in as a big prospect, and won the English title in fight number 8. In his 11th he had his loss to Carl Thompson. Such as loss makes or breaks you, and would derail a large number of fighters, Haye was too mentally strong though. Refocused, he won the European title in his 16th fight and made 3 defences. A one-fight cameo at heavyweight saw him destroy Tomasz Bonin in the first round before he travelled to France to get up off the floor to topple Jean Marc Mormeck - probably my favourite Haye fight. He lured Enzo/FW into a fight at the 02, then went onto dispel any doubt he was by far the superior fighter. Enzo has never been the same since.

Back to heavyweight and a 5th round stoppage against respected gatekeeper Monte Barrett. Then the beast from the east Valuev, not the greatest champion ever but undeniably huge which brought its own challenges. John Ruiz came next as a mandatory, he was passed his best but was well beaten anyway. A huge (and to some unforgiveable) payday against Audley was followed by what he always said he wanted to do, test himself against the best - 50% of the Klitschko dynasty. He failed. He will know this more than anyone. He was disrespectful and wound up losing fans to the very men he had been directing his insults at. Then there was the toe, I suspect he wished he hadn't mentioned it. Then again he's 30 and losing isn't something he's used to, we all have our flaws don't we?

There were some cringeworthy moments, but far more that were funny, exciting and above all admirable. I interviewed Haye some years ago, and attended his press conferences and always found him to be an intelligent, likeable, and ambitious man who captivated a crowd. Independent and headstrong, with long time friend Adam Booth they trod an almost unique path to the top. He's probably the only person I'm aware of in domestic boxing to get one up on FW. Who know's where Hayemaker promotions would be had it not been for Setanta's decline? It was a bold move at the time. Haye was one of the few fighters of recent years to find himself on the couches of interviewers of the most popular programmes on terrestrial tv. Going back further, Haye was one of the first British boxers to embrace social networking to engage his fans, via his MySpace site. It's unfortunate that most people only remember the last one or two years.

David Haye, thanks for for the good times. A two weight world champion from Bermondsey, London. You and Adam both did us proud.

[plymouthskinhead]

So Haye's retiring? Won't be remembered for being a great champion and to think we were conned into believing he could beat Wladimir Klitschko too. At least Big Wlad acted like a gentleman which is more can be said for that lemon. Had he came back on his shield he'd have been more respected, but no...

[Exoddus]

He did exactly what I said he was going to do at heavyweight. Nothing...I know he became a "world champion" but it's a fact that a 46(?) year old Evander Holyfield beat Valuev in their world title fight.

Wlad was faster, stronger and the much better boxer. If Wlad wasn't so negative as he always is. He could have stepped on the gas and knocked David Haye out (and won me some money too!).

David Haye does have an option left. Vitali has publicly stated a couple of times that he wants a fight with David Haye. It looks like David Haye has run away from this fight to try and save the little bit of reputation he still has. Vitali would knock David Haye out if they were to fight and David knows this.

[Exoddus]

to think we were conned into believing he could beat Wladimir Klitschko too. respected, but no...

Only idiots were conned into thinking that. Probably the same idiots who thought Audley could become a world champion .

[freddydoesdallas]

No loss? Really?

I've enjoyed Haye's career. I remember watching the world amateurs when he took silver, the bbc covering his first few fights, the fight against The Cat and then knuckling down after that to comeback stronger and rise to the top of the division.

I went out to Paris to watch the Mormeck fight, and what a fight that was. The French guys next to me were Haye fans rather than Mormeck. The build up to the Enzo fight with him and Booth giving FW grief at every opportunity.

His time at heavyweight may not have been the most electric but it was better than the rest could offer at the time. Watching Williams, Skelton, Harrison, Rogan etc falling into each other and hugging at every opportunity was not exactly thrilling. He took a portion of the title and went for the main prize. He fell short but at least he went for the top rather than sitting on his title for 10 years.

All in all, i think he's provided boxing fans with good entertainment over the years

[MightyWarrior]

More rubbish from Haye - just calling the Klit's bluff. He'll get an undeserved shot at Vitali and will be back soon enough.

[Spiker]

AS far as i'm concerned this is a big loss.
Best heavy or cruiser in the UK.
Didnt get sparked by klit just made an idiot of himself with the toe thing.
What other heavy is there. Dont say Tyson Fury because hes a novice.
I remember Nigel Benn ripping up his licence years ago in the states and he still fought at home.
Hopefuly this is bravado or its one less name in a dying trend sport over here.

[BoxingAnalyst]

Good riddance, he just wasn't as good as he made out.

[Wax On]

Fickle as ever.

If this is the end of Haye's career, then it's time for some sensible analysis on it. He came in as a big prospect, and won the English title in fight number 8. In his 11th he had his loss to Carl Thompson. Such as loss makes or breaks you, and would derail a large number of fighters, Haye was too mentally strong though. Refocused, he won the European title in his 16th fight and made 3 defences. A one-fight cameo at heavyweight saw him destroy Tomasz Bonin in the first round before he travelled to France to get up off the floor to topple Jean Marc Mormeck - probably my favourite Haye fight. He lured Enzo/FW into a fight at the 02, then went onto dispel any doubt he was by far the superior fighter. Enzo has never been the same since.

Back to heavyweight and a 5th round stoppage against respected gatekeeper Monte Barrett. Then the beast from the east Valuev, not the greatest champion ever but undeniably huge which brought its own challenges. John Ruiz came next as a mandatory, he was passed his best but was well beaten anyway. A huge (and to some unforgiveable) payday against Audley was followed by what he always said he wanted to do, test himself against the best - 50% of the Klitschko dynasty. He failed. He will know this more than anyone. He was disrespectful and wound up losing fans to the very men he had been directing his insults at. Then there was the toe, I suspect he wished he hadn't mentioned it. Then again he's 30 and losing isn't something he's used to, we all have our flaws don't we?

There were some cringeworthy moments, but far more that were funny, exciting and above all admirable. I interviewed Haye some years ago, and attended his press conferences and always found him to be an intelligent, likeable, and ambitious man who captivated a crowd. Independent and headstrong, with long time friend Adam Booth they trod an almost unique path to the top. He's probably the only person I'm aware of in domestic boxing to get one up on FW. Who know's where Hayemaker promotions would be had it not been for Setanta's decline? It was a bold move at the time. Haye was one of the few fighters of recent years to find himself on the couches of interviewers of the most popular programmes on terrestrial tv. Going back further, Haye was one of the first British boxers to embrace social networking to engage his fans, via his MySpace site. It's unfortunate that most people only remember the last one or two years.

David Haye, thanks for for the good times. A two weight world champion from Bermondsey, London. You and Adam both did us proud.

Great post James! I wouldn't be suprised if this was just the next publicity stunt from Team Hayemaker though! Pretend he's not renewing his license, get loads of stick from Press, Vitali and some fans and then all of a sudden announce he's had a change of heart and is going to knock Vitali out. Then make millions, lose badly and retire again. Fair play to him!

[tonyevs]

More rubbish from Haye - just calling the Klit's bluff. He'll get an undeserved shot at Vitali and will be back soon enough.

Yes. Thats my thinking on it too.
Problem is - if the Brothers don`t think Haye is as important in the heavyweight scene as David Haye obviously thinks he is ..

A straight shot at Vitali coming off the back of the Wlad defeat .. and terrible showing that night .. who exactly would want to buy the fight, let alone watch it??


Haye was a breath of fresh air early in his career. But he got his head turned to the easy money route. This then has made him a laughing stock in a similar vein as his nemesis Auld-Audley.
Good riddance to the false prophet of heavyweight boxing.

[IRLangmaid25]

According to an article written by Gareth A Davies from the Daily Telegraph today. Robert Smith of the Secretary of the Board of Control has stated that they have recieved an email from David Haye stating that he does not wish to renew his licence and that they will discuss in the forthcoming Board Meeting which is tomorrow and that they will not object to his decision not to renew his licence even though Haye's licence to Box does not offically run out until December.

Source http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/others ... etire.html.

[tonyevs]

even though Haye's licence to Box does not offically run out until December.

.

[reggaereggae]

I imagine he'll come back after the Klitschkos have retired in some big 'comeback' story. He'll surely get bored in retirement.

If he sticks to retirement; well done - he's made good money, and pro boxing is a very tough game and teh worst to go on fighting too long.