Former heavyweight champion Haye retires

Reuters/London

A file picture dated 29 June 2011 shows British boxer David Haye during a training exercise in Hamburg, Germany. Former world heavyweight boxing champion David Haye retired on his 31st birthday yesterday. Haye said in a statement he had always planned to hang up his gloves once he passed the age of 30

Britain’s former world heavyweight champion David Haye retired from the sport on his 31st birthday yesterday, ruling out future bouts with Ukraine’s Klitschko brothers. “It has been my intention to retire from boxing on this day ever since I first laced up my gloves as a skinny 10-year-old,” Haye said in a statement. “I’ve tried to be the best I can, fight the best possible fighters on their turf but even though I fell short against Vladimir I’m a two-weight champion, one of the best ever British boxers,” he told Sky Sports in his London gym. Haye lost his WBA world title on points to Vladimir Klitschko in a unification bout in his last fight in July—a defeat he blamed on fighting with a broken toe in Hamburg. On Tuesday the British Boxing Board of Control said the Briton was not renewing his licence. “I know fighters who have gone on way too long. I’ve never wanted to be that guy.” Haye also ruled out a rematch with Vladimir or a fight with his elder brother Vitali, the WBC world heavyweight champion. The Klitschkos hold all the major championship belts in the division, but have said they would not fight each other. “The fight is out of the question with either of the Klitschkos in the new year,” added Haye.