David Haye Faces Criticism for Ending Boxing Career Early
David Haye, former heavyweight champion, will hang up his boxing gloves after the British Boxing Board of Control announced on Tuesday that he will not renew his boxing license.
The 30-year old Briton boxer announced that he would end his boxing career before turning 31, and with his next birthday approaching on Thursday it seems Hayes will end with a 25-2 record. Robert Smith, British Boxing Board of Control secretary, told the Sun that he recently learned of the boxer’s wish to end his career.
"I received an email on Monday advising me Haye would not be carrying on," Smith said. "The board will discuss it on Wednesday but there is no way we could go against his wish not to renew his boxing license. Without it, he can't fight."
Although Haye’s alleged wish was to end his boxing career by Thursday, he will be doing it with a recent belt stripping loss on his record. Hayes was forced to give his WBA heavyweight title to Wladimir Klitschko, one he has held since 2009 in the face of three opponents.
In an era when 34-year-old welterweight champion, Floyd Mayweather, is making millions from pay-per-view fights, some think Haye is bowing out before his time.
Barry McGuigan, former world featherweight champion, told BBC Sport that he could not understand why a fighter like Haye would retire.
"If it is the end then it's a shame because he had so much more to give," McGuigan said. "As the Klitschkos showed, heavyweights blossom in their 30s. If it's the end then it's a career unfulfilled."
However, Smith told BBC that he felt Haye would leave the world of boxing on a high note.
"Obviously his last fight must have been bitterly disappointing for him, but if you look at his career as a whole he has been very good to the sport and we wish him well,” Smith said. “There are many instances when heavyweights can go on longer than the smaller weight divisions but he has his whole life ahead of him, he has achieved a great deal and good luck to the man.”
