David Haye Doesn't Renew Boxing License, Sort of Retires

by Scott Christ on Oct 11, 2011 5:44 PM EDT in Boxing News Analysis

David Haye has technically retired by not renewing his BBBofC license. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Bongarts/Getty Images)

David Haye has not renewed his license with the British Boxing Board of Control, which does technically make him retired, kind of. From RingTV.com:

"I received an email on Monday advising me Haye would not be carrying on," confirmed BBBC secretary Robert Smith. "The board will consider it on Wednesday. But there is no way we could go against his wish not to renew his boxing license. Without it, he cannot fight."

Word is that Haye (25-2, 23 KO) would come back for a fight with one of the Klitschko brothers, which most likely would be against WBC titlist Vitali Klitschko, who greatly desires a chance to knock Haye out and finish the job that brother Wladimir started on July 2 in Germany. Wladimir defeated Haye by dominant unanimous decision.

Haye always said he'd retire on his 31st birthday, which is Thursday. He's been talking about fighting Vitali, but no deal has come about just yet. Whether or not one still will is another matter -- it could happen, but Haye has balked at Klitschko contract terms in the past, and other fighters have expressed the same concerns about the level of control they have to give the brothers to land fights with them, too. It's not just Haye. He managed a 50-50 deal with Wladimir, but Haye now holds no title belts and embarrassed himself somewhat with his non-performance against Wladimir, too.

Haye and manager/trainer Adam Booth are expected to make a formal announcement on Thursday.

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It’s kinda odd. There are two stories running on Sky

1) Haye isn’t renewing his license

2) Haye is in advanced talks with Vitali

by properdave on Oct 11, 2011 7:34 PM EDT reply actions

Just to clarify. It is Vitali’s camp who have said they are in talks.

by properdave on Oct 11, 2011 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Lord above….Is this what it has come to in this era?

Retire. Unretire. Retire. Threaten to retire.

Haye has got to be about as lucky as any man in sports living today. His ability to speak English and his chosen profession (when he professes to choose it) , Boxing is such a wasteland that he can make noise and get paid as a Heavyweight boxer.

Poor Sergio Martinez. There’s a guy who actually fights and entertains and the poor guy comes along and excels when there is no on in sight.

Haye, for me, is like Toe Jam; something that stinks and I want no part of seeing.

"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali

by pakinpower on Oct 11, 2011 9:20 PM EDT reply actions

Who’s gonna clean up the division now if he retires?

All of it. Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie. I want it all.

by Eugene Banks on Oct 11, 2011 9:24 PM EDT reply actions

Tye Fields

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Oct 11, 2011 11:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

This division is as clean as one can get.

"Sure, there have been injuries and deaths in boxing – but none of them serious." Alan Minter

by DrHenrik on Oct 12, 2011 6:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Anyone else

I mean really, Hate let many of us down big time. I hope he does get KTFO by Vitali, and I can’t stand the Klitchskos!

"That was very funny about the old man basketball skills. One is lucky to escape injury when playing against those crafty, crusty sumbitches. And it’s just demoralizing when they demonstrate yet again how to use the backboard from range." - Charlie Custer

by SmittytheCutman on Oct 11, 2011 11:06 PM EDT reply actions

Good riddance, I say if he really stays retired.

Bob Arum would promote Lucifer himself if he could put asses in the seats.

by Apprentice on Oct 11, 2011 11:39 PM EDT reply actions

yawn

by ScottCL on Oct 12, 2011 1:16 AM EDT reply actions

sob!

—say it ain’t so, david

my life is based on the possibility of at least one more thriller with you facing a Klit

by Don From Prov on Oct 12, 2011 11:03 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah right

Dancing on Ice, then Prizefighter with Sprott and Skelton.

by Shitali Klitschko on Oct 12, 2011 11:24 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I’m not too terribly surprised by this. I didn’t necessarily expect him to announce a retirement in any formal way, but after the Harrison and W. Klitschko fights, he had no realistic chances of dictating any terms at all, unless Vitali decided to give him anything he wanted just for the chance of pounding him into the pavement. It seems unsurprising that he would just let his license expire quietly.

Given that I am a real Klitschko brothers fan, I would love to see Vitali get a shot at Haye. But not, and I mean not, if Haye gets a ton of money out of another excruciatingly embarrassing performance.

by DrRck on Oct 12, 2011 4:17 PM EDT reply actions

I am so damn tired of HW boxers thinking they’re better than the division, even after losing to a K brother. Why the hell can’t Haye fight someone like Adamek or Arreola, where fans will have a real chance at a good fight? Oh yeah, I know why, but still. It’s a sad state.

Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"

by Matt Miller on Oct 12, 2011 4:23 PM EDT reply actions

Haye especially didnt really seem to have a ‘love’ for boxing, rather a love for the celebrity that it brought him.

Im sure he said he wanted to move into films (before the Audley fight), says it all.

by Shitali Klitschko on Oct 12, 2011 4:30 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I was thinking exactly the same thing: Adamek or Arreola, maybe Povetkin (whom I sure he would beat), or even Helenius. Let Haye got back into the wash cycle for a while, and rebuild credibility. But I guess in order for that to happen, Haye needs to want to be a fighter, rather than a media star who uses boxing as an avenue.

I may be being a bit too judgmental here, but Haye seemed to get awfully full of himself after getting the decision over Valuev. He has to get over this.

by DrRck on Oct 12, 2011 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions