David Haye hints at retirement....

[Controversial]

If he cannot knockout Bellew. Probably a wise decision.

[(craig)]

Haye retired ages ago, he just pops in now and again to top up his pension.

[ILikeBeer]

If he cannot knockout Bellew. Probably a wise decision.

If he can still sell out the 02 knocking out doorknobs, and get freeview channels to fund it, I suspect we'll see him in the ring again at some point.

Easy money for him, really.

[TheCobra]

Yep, it's all about the money now for Haye. A celebrity boxer akin to Amir Khan... or Rio Ferdinand.

[asdfjkl]

I wonder if he can handle Rio Ferdinant or whatever his name is

[gilgamesh]

Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out...might break one of your frail little bones.

WAR BELLEW! Send this chump packing!

[Stuarty]

I just don't give two fukks about Haye anymore or this bullshít fight! Bellew as a cruiserweight belt holder should be involved in the tournament that's going on just now. I don't blame him for taking this fight as it's obviously a good earner for him but I just don't give two shíts for this nonsense. Especially the week before Xmas!

[tobyh5]

I just don't give two fukks about Haye anymore or this bullshít fight! Bellew as a cruiserweight belt holder should be involved in the tournament that's going on just now. I don't blame him for taking this fight as it's obviously a good earner for him but I just don't give two shíts for this nonsense. Especially the week before Xmas!

I am exactly the same mate, got better things to spend my money on during Christmas week and I say that while acknowledging that the first fight I thought was a walkover win for Haye beforehand and it now being 50-50 with all sorts of question marks but I just do not care for or about Haye anymore. Oh and I travelled 300 miles to attend the first fight.

[Stuarty]

I just don't give two fukks about Haye anymore or this bullshít fight! Bellew as a cruiserweight belt holder should be involved in the tournament that's going on just now. I don't blame him for taking this fight as it's obviously a good earner for him but I just don't give two shíts for this nonsense. Especially the week before Xmas!

I am exactly the same mate, got better things to spend my money on during Christmas week and I say that while acknowledging that the first fight I thought was a walkover win for Haye beforehand and it now being 50-50 with all sorts of question marks but I just do not care for or about Haye anymore. Oh and I travelled 300 miles to attend the first fight.

I had forgotten you were there mate. I also thought Haye would do what he wanted in the first fight. I still think Haye will chin him this time round but I don't care enough to buy it! It's just more piss taking by Sky!

[stujones]

It is such a shame how his career has gone.... and really thinking about it is just those fights he had on Dave that aggrivate the boxing community, okay and the pull outs vs Fury.

He showed great heart vs Mormeck and solved a puzzle vs Valuev (hey, if people are starting to describe Fury vs Klitchsko as a masterclass, then why not Haye vs Valuev also) - his fight / performance against Chisora is one of the most overlooked in recent times - he demolished Chisora in a fashion that nobody has done - not even Vitali.

Yet, now he seems to be a figure of hate in the boxing community - such a shame.... I can understand, but it is such a shame. Nobody said when Ricky said he would retire if he couldn't beat Schevenko to "slam the door when you go".

[tobyh5]

It is such a shame how his career has gone.... and really thinking about it is just those fights he had on Dave that aggrivate the boxing community, okay and the pull outs vs Fury.

He showed great heart vs Mormeck and solved a puzzle vs Valuev (hey, if people are starting to describe Fury vs Klitchsko as a masterclass, then why not Haye vs Valuev also) - his fight / performance against Chisora is one of the most overlooked in recent times - he demolished Chisora in a fashion that nobody has done - not even Vitali.

Yet, now he seems to be a figure of hate in the boxing community - such a shame.... I can understand, but it is such a shame. Nobody said when Ricky said he would retire if he couldn't beat Schevenko to "slam the door when you go".

Such a shame that it has gone this way. He came up the right way while Audley was taking the other route. He was the Anti-Audley, the polar opposite, showing how it should be done, taking the right step ups and chances and in a way, the CAT defeat enhanced him as he took the chance, it backfired but he learnt and improved. Now he is an utter joke. I boxed for Fitzroy Lodge very briefly but trained there for 2 years while working and living in London so felt a connection due to that. But think he is an arsehole and having met him a few times, can attest that his arrogance and disregard for the fans is quite a sight to behold

[Grilling Machine]

I think that we as fans should take a very small part of the blame for investing in heavies so much. Haye could've been the greatest cruiserweight of the 200lb era had he stayed there and remained undefeated after Thompson. He had a good chance of that, I think. Instead, he largely wasted the latter half of his career chasing a dream that was never really his; he was never quite good enough until Lewis retired, and that left a vacuum that Harrison couldn't fill.

The funny thing is that the Chisora-level Haye would be 50:50 against the current Joshua, and there's no-one else even close to that. So his choice to fight at heavy would've made total sense were he five years younger. But as it was, he threw away so much of our respect and admiration on his way out of the arena after Mormeck. Maccarinelli proved that he was a class above at that point, and it hasn't been until recently that the cruisers are getting close to his old form.

I don't especially like Haye as a person, but he was a standout favourite boxer of mine when I was younger. Like the older Tyson, I'm still hoping for that one last rollback, even though I know that I'm probably kidding myself.

[Counter-puncher]

But as it was, he threw away so much of our respect and admiration on his way out of the arena after Mormeck.

How so?

[Grilling Machine]

He had most of us behind him after that fight. It wasn't a classic fight as such, but a classic, memorable occasion. Haye loved making his reverse ringwalk with the crowds reaching out to him, but then he turned his back on that in expectation of those fans staying loyal throughout his heavyweight career.

Though it has to be said that he started well against Barrett after dipping his, er, toe in against Bonin the previous year.

[jamamb]

ppl overrated his chances against wlad than got mad at him when they were wrong, felt like owed more. a bigger elite hard punching guy with excellent jab and quick step back was made to nullify haye. haye could've still done more in the division and beat old hobbling vitali. now if usyk wins the tounrmant even hayes cruiser rep will drop, cus there's another 'next best' guy.

[leejonesjnr]

Bellew as a cruiserweight belt holder should be involved in the tournament that's going on just now.

Bellew isn't a belt holder, but yes would have been a good addition to the tournament

[northern]

Haye adds a lot of character to the British heavyweight scene. Joshua is the poster boy of the UK without a doubt, he's the model professional that everyone likes, all the ability in the world and humble enough to appreciate everyone's support.
David Haye on the other hand, he's a master at self promotion. I admit I bought the PPV when he fought Harrison, I watched his comeback fights on Dave. It's hard not to be entertained by the build up and the final show. When you take Joshua and Haye out of the equation the British scene doesn't have much to shout about right now.

David Allen & Sam sexton have a long way to go to be anything worth talking about above British level, Gary Cornish needs to get back on track, David Price is seen as the nearly man from the UK now, Chisora is past his best and doesn't have a claim to the heavyweight elite now, Fury (Hughie) just had his chance at the top and came up short, Fury (Tyson) doesn't seem to be doing anything and Whyte isn't at the front of the cue for any of the world titles right now.

Haye adds the character that the division needs in the UK, personally I'd love to see him win and defend the British title for a while to get the public back into our heavyweight scene and add a little more recognition for the belt.

[Cyclops]

Quick question that doesn't really warrant its own thread: what recent era of British boxing stars, when they were in the acendency and winning, did you prefer?

The Hatton and Calzaghe era.

Froch and Haye.

Or the current AJ/Fury/Degale/Brooke Hearn clusterfuck?

Personally, despite loving Calzagz, I thought Haye and Froch brought us the most thrills and spills. The current version of David is almost Roy Jones like in his embarrassing fall from grace, but in his pomp he was all action and delivered some corking nights, as did the old nosejob Frog. They both put it on the line and had some real cracking edge of the seat tear ups.

This current era has all the razzmatazz but we will have to see how the future goes. This Haye-Bellew farce does not bode well.

[jamamb]

what were hayes most entertaining fights

mormeck and thompson? and mock? he was good to watch when all over the place wasnt he.

[gilgamesh]

what were hayes most entertaining fights

mormeck and ?

I mean he smashes some people in quick fashion a few times in fights that didn't have time to be dull.

Chisora, Enzo Maccarinelli...guys like that.

I dislike Haye, and I hope he loses again in December and then goes away.

[Stuarty]

Bellew as a cruiserweight belt holder should be involved in the tournament that's going on just now.

Bellew isn't a belt holder, but yes would have been a good addition to the tournament

My apologies. I thought of that as soon as I posted that comment! Take it he gave the WBC up? I've been a bit distant from current affairs recently man! X

[olij999]

Bellew as a cruiserweight belt holder should be involved in the tournament that's going on just now.

Bellew isn't a belt holder, but yes would have been a good addition to the tournament

My apologies. I thought of that as soon as I posted that comment! Take it he gave the WBC up? I've been a bit distant from current affairs recently man! X

He gave up the standard WBC belt, which Mairis Breidis now holds. However, according to the commentary on the Breidis fight, Bellew is WBC "champion emeritus" at cruiser (the same slightly meaningless title that Vitali Klitschko held at heavy during his long injury layoff and which justified him coming straight back into a title fight with Samuel Peter).

[FastestHandsInThewest]

He should already.

[olij999]

But as it was, he threw away so much of our respect and admiration on his way out of the arena after Mormeck.

How so?

I didn't get this comment either. Tell us more!

[Ruthless-RKO]

Bellew is ranked 6th best HW on Boxrec