Haye To Retire?

Haye To Retire?

If as expected and to the surprise of absolutely nobody, David Haye announces his retirement in the coming days, it will bring an end to a 16 year professional career.

Fighters are the last to know its over, or at least admit its over. Boxing history tells us it often takes a younger, fresher, hungrier fighter to cement his fists repeatedly to convince the older fighter his day in the sun has gone.

The 5th round loss to Tony Bellew in their rematch reminded me of when Sugar Ray Leonard lost to Hector Camacho.

The body on the outside might look primed for the brutality of boxing, but the reality is very different. The mind might be willing, but the body just can’t do it to the level it once could.

Haye like Leonard, was hampered by an injury in his final bout, and punches which were avoided and absorbed, were taken and all punch resistance had gone.

Sadly for Haye the latter part of his career has become one of much ridicule.

The tepid loss to Klitschko after all the pre-fight talk and then all the toe shenanigans. The we had the disgraceful antics with Chisora prior to their fight, followed by the injuries which forced him out of proposed fights with Tyson Fury.

The two farcical comeback wins were nothing but glorified exhibitions and did him no favours. The two defeats to Bellew signalled the end, and his many critics enjoyed his demise.

But Haye even in those two defeats, showed heart few thought he had. A lesser man in the first fight would have took the easy way out long before Haye was pulled out by his corner.

In moments of self reflection I feel Haye will leave the sport with regrets, and I feel despite what he achieved he could and should have achieved so much more.

That said Haye did achieve plenty, a two weight world champion, and that should not be forgotten.

Remember his prime not the decline.