Britain’s Haye set to retire

Former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye is set to announce his retirement after informing the British Boxing Board of Control he intends to quit the sport, according to reports yesterday. Haye, who celebrates his 31st birthday tomorrow, had always...

Former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye is set to announce his retirement after informing the British Boxing Board of Control he intends to quit the sport, according to reports yesterday.

Haye, who celebrates his 31st birthday tomorrow, had always said he would not fight past the age of 30, but many had expected him to delay his retirement for one more big fight, possibly against Ukraine’s Vitali Klitschko, who holds the WBC title.

Board secretary Robert Smith said: “I received an email on Monday advising me Haye would not be carrying on.

“The board will discuss it on Wednesday (today) but there is no way we could go against his wish not to renew his boxing licence. Without it, he can’t fight.”

The Londoner lost his WBA belt to Klitschko’s brother Wladimir by an unanimous points decision in Hamburg, Germany in July.

Haye, who has lost only twice in 27 professional bouts, first won the WBA belt by beating Russian Nikolay Valuev on points in Germany in November 2009.

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