David Haye: Former world heavyweight champion retires from boxing

David Haye: Former world heavyweight champion retires from boxing

The 37-year-old lost his last fight in May, a heavyweight rematch against fellow Briton Tony Bellew, after losing the first contest in March 2017.

Haye is also a former cruiserweight world champion and ends his career with a record of four defeats in 32 fights.

He said he was "ready to close this chapter in my life" but "this is not the end of my story - it's simply the start of something new".

Haye became European cruiserweight champion and went on to win the WBC, WBO and WBA world titles before stepping up to heavyweight.

He beat Russian Nikolay Valuev to claim the WBA heavyweight crown in 2009.

In doing so, he became only the second boxer after American Evander Holyfield to unify the cruiserweight titles and become a heavyweight world champion.

The victory also meant he was the first Briton to hold a world heavyweight crown since Lennox Lewis.

However, after his fifth-round stoppage by Bellew, Haye acknowledged he was "giving 100% effort but performing way below world level".

In a statement, he added: "For my fans, it must have been like going to support their favourite thoroughbred racehorse at the Grand National, only to see their stallion stumble out the gates like a sedated mule at the Donkey Derby.

"I saw punches coming but wasn't quick enough to avoid them. I created openings but lacked the speed and agility to capitalise on them.

"Quick, bread and butter counterattacks, the sort I've effortlessly thrown since my teenage years, are no longer in my armoury. And when I take shots, they now shake me to my boots.

"The things I used to be able to do in the ring - instinctively - now exist only in my mind and in video clips of my old fights."

He added: "The boxing gods have spoken. They will no longer protect me with the freakish speed and power I used to possess.

"And without these God-given gifts, I completely lose my edge."

Haye thought he was in "tip-top shape" going into the fight against Bellew but "looks can be deceiving" as he also admitted he would have fought more in the second half of his career but for injuries to stop him doing so.

"Often it was a fight just getting to the ring in one piece," he said.

"In the past five years I have snapped (fully ruptured) both biceps, my rotator cuff and my Achilles tendon.

"All four injuries were potentially career-ending and each of them required operations with months of intense rehabilitation.

"The biggest physical challenge I had to face, however, was a spinal surgery in March 2015."

Haye also announced his retirement in October 2011, three months after losing his WBA belt to Ukrainian Wladimir Klitscho in Germany, but he returned to the ring the following year.

This time around, he said: "I'm proud of the battles I've been through. I'm proud, too, that I exit the battlefield happy and healthy, with my family financially secure.

"Most importantly, I can reflect on it all with crystal clarity."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/44455690

Not surprising.

A big fan in the early days but annoyed me how he milked the fans towards end of his career when he had little desire left.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAA1xgTTw9w


Good riddance to bad rubbish

Hopefully this is the last time I'll have to say this...

David Haye is a cunt, that is all

He was a very good amateur and easily the greatest cruiserweight of his generation. You could make a decent argument that he was probably in the top two or three cruiserweights who ever operated at that level.

He was always entertaining to watch and a fantastic athlete with great reflexes, power and timing.

Unfortunately, his heavyweight career was a ten year con job. He pulled out of multiple fights and I do think his unorthodox training methods contributed to the terrible injuries he suffered.

Fighting the likes of Audley Harrison, Monte Barret, John Ruiz, Valuev and the mighty Arnold Gjergjai and Mark de Mori (never mind the journeyman Bellew) did not deserve big purses, media exposure or pay per view.

I never thought his marriage would last long, as David is clearly in love with himself more than he could possibly give to another.

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Originally Posted by X

He was a very good amateur and easily the greatest cruiserweight of his generation. You could make a decent argument that he was probably in the top two or three cruiserweights who ever operated at that level.

He was always entertaining to watch and a fantastic athlete with great reflexes, power and timing.

Unfortunately, his heavyweight career was a ten year con job. He pulled out of multiple fights and I do think his unorthodox training methods contributed to the terrible injuries he suffered.

Fighting the likes of Audley Harrison, Monte Barret, John Ruiz, Valuev and the mighty Arnold Gjergjai and Mark de Mori (never mind the journeyman Bellew) did not deserve big purses, media exposure or pay per view.

I never thought his marriage would last long, as David is clearly in love with himself more than he could possibly give to another.

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I was not conned and I told all yall about Haye from the get go! So much so that people were all "Why do you ALWAYS call out David Haye! You're just a Hater!".....oh I hate that sumbeech alright, people we thinking he was the next Naseem Hamed....they weren't far off. He would beat anyone sans pulse and then get his ass kicked and retire because of a bad pinky toe :-\


This one I certainly called, Haye was a bum he is a bum, he was a cruiserweight, best cruiserweight of his era who cares, he did diddly poo in the heavyweight division. Audley, Monte Barrett, Valuev, Ruiz, Chisora, De Mori, Gjergjaj....those are the heavyweights David Haye beat....pathetic

Let's be real, you can't beat Valuev to be HW champion when Valuev lost his belt to Chagaev. I don't care if a sanctioning body stole it back from Chagaev. If you don't win a championship you are not a champion. Haye beat former champion Valuev.

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Originally Posted by Ron Swanson

Let's be real, you can't beat Valuev to be HW champion when Valuev lost his belt to Chagaev. I don't care if a sanctioning body stole it back from Chagaev. If you don't win a championship you are not a champion. Haye beat former champion Valuev.

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To be fair I didn't think he beat Valuev.

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Originally Posted by Ron Swanson

Let's be real, you can't beat Valuev to be HW champion when Valuev lost his belt to Chagaev. I don't care if a sanctioning body stole it back from Chagaev. If you don't win a championship you are not a champion. Haye beat former champion Valuev.

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I thought maybe Valuev won it again

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Originally Posted by Mark TKO

Not surprising.

A big fan in the early days but annoyed me how he milked the fans towards end of his career when he had little desire left.

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agree, I started to dislike him when he became a heavweight

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Originally Posted by Drago

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Originally Posted by Mark TKO

Not surprising.

A big fan in the early days but annoyed me how he milked the fans towards end of his career when he had little desire left.

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agree, I started to dislike him when he became a heavweight

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actually his heavyweight title defences are on par with riddick bowe as in quality of opponents

Like a lot of people I was a massive fan of Haye for most of his career.

There were lows in his career and no one should try to gloss over them, but by the same token they shouldn't make the highs no longer admissible. World amateur Silver, English, Euro and multiple World champion in the paid ranks, you cant pretend all that, you have to have something and that's exactly what Haye had. Star quality, X factor, the stuff you cant pretend, you've either got it or you don't, Haye had it.

His heavyweight career is seen as something of a joke, it's easy to see why. Not sure I'd agree with it mind. The finer details can and will be argued until the cows come home but Barrett, Ruiz, Harrison, Valuev, Klitschko and Chisora isn't a bad little cameo as a heavyweight. Those are are the kind of names and calibre of fighter that when you shoe horn in a BIG win, starts to make a great career.

An injury free Haye was a force of nature with a missile right hand that almost always got the job done. Yeah I enjoyed watching him fight.

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Originally Posted by Memphis

Like a lot of people I was a massive fan of Haye for most of his career.

There were lows in his career and no one should try to gloss over them, but by the same token they shouldn't make the highs no longer admissible. World amateur Silver, English, Euro and multiple World champion in the paid ranks, you cant pretend all that, you have to have something and that's exactly what Haye had. Star quality, X factor, the stuff you cant pretend, you've either got it or you don't, Haye had it.

His heavyweight career is seen as something of a joke, it's easy to see why. Not sure I'd agree with it mind. The finer details can and will be argued until the cows come home but Barrett, Ruiz, Harrison, Valuev, Klitschko and Chisora isn't a bad little cameo as a heavyweight. Those are are the kind of names and calibre of fighter that when you shoe horn in a BIG win, starts to make a great career.

An injury free Haye was a force of nature with a missile right hand that almost always got the job done. Yeah I enjoyed watching him fight.

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Bang on son :cool:

I'm of the same thinking all in all.....

People also forget that pre Hearn/Matchroom UK boxing was in a pretty shit state, Calzaghe, Hatton and Haye were the only ones really flying the flag and keeping the UK scene relevant.

Hatton and Haye were the ones bringing the fans and doing Huge PPV numbers (Calzaghe not so much even though he was the best fighter of the 3 by a mile)

Yeah Haye pissed me off with his performance against Wlad but he had some solid wins at Heavyweight and usually by KO.

He was at his most lethal imo when he fought Enzo and absolutely destroyed him, the reflexes, timing and speed he threw that first counter right hand with that visibly rearranged Enzos haircut ;D was Ali like and he then went on battered him silly shortly after (Haye was a lethal finisher)

He was never a Huge Heavyweight either which is something people also forget.

Personally i was lucky enough to see him twice from ringside - against Gurov when he smashed him in 40 seconds to win the European Cruiser title, then had a beer with him after and a chat, met his then wife Natasha and he was sound as and a really genuine nice guy with a big personality, he told me then at the bar he wanted to do what Holyfield did and go and win a Heavyweight strap.

Second time was against Fragomenni when he got a bad cut midway and was being dragged into a fierce war then pulled out something special from nowhere and stopped the tough Italian - I've been to Londons legendary York Hall loads of times and never seen/heard an atmosphere like there was that night.

The place was electric and absolutely rocking and wall to wall with celebrities and hot women everywhere.

Haye brought excitement, Glamour and that showbiz factor everytime he fought for a long period and at a time when the UK scene was pretty much dead compared to what it is now.

It's no secret he was a player/womaniser and a party boy outside of boxing which is why him and Booth parted ways, makes you wonder how things might have been even better if he was your boring non charisma type and he stuck with Booth?

On the whole a great UK fighter and he gave me some great nights and great fights over the years.

Ain't really got a bad word to say about him and happy for him he's chosen to turn it in with his brain intact and cash in the bank :cool:

Has always felt like he essentially retired after his first significant heavyweight win and initial defense. Think he could have done so much more but he settled on twitter wars and laying an egg in his showdown with "glass chin" Wlad. Wonder if he ever got his money back for those dumb t shirts. And I see it said a lot about unifying cruiser but did he really? I mean the wbo. while O'Neil Bell unified the 3 major belts Holyfield actually held.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Has always felt like he essentially retired after his first significant heavyweight win and initial defense. Think he could have done so much more but he settled on twitter wars and laying an egg in his showdown with "glass chin" Wlad. Wonder if he ever got his money back for those dumb t shirts. And I see it said a lot about unifying cruiser but did he really? I mean the wbo. while O'Neil Bell unified the 3 major belts Holyfield actually held.

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Thing is Bell won then lost the belts to the guy Haye bashed up in Mormeck then he (Bell) went on a losing streak and dissapeared, Haye was looking to move to Heavyweight well before he got the WBA, WBC and WBO plus the Ring mag belt in he Enzo fight.

3 belts qualifies for unifying and personally i think he'd have put Bell to sleep

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Originally Posted by smashup

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Has always felt like he essentially retired after his first significant heavyweight win and initial defense. Think he could have done so much more but he settled on twitter wars and laying an egg in his showdown with "glass chin" Wlad. Wonder if he ever got his money back for those dumb t shirts. And I see it said a lot about unifying cruiser but did he really? I mean the wbo. while O'Neil Bell unified the 3 major belts Holyfield actually held.

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Thing is Bell won then lost the belts to the guy Haye bashed up in Mormeck then he (Bell) went on a losing streak and dissapeared, Haye was looking to move to Heavyweight well before he got the WBA, WBC and WBO plus the Ring mag belt in he Enzo fight.

3 belts qualifies for unifying and personally i think he'd have put Bell to sleep

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I dunno about Haye sleeping Bell but it's more plausible than the much talked about Haye v Holyfield 'what if' when he went up ;D. Bell could bang and he got Mormeck out first and he also grabbed The Ring belt. Surely Haye benefited a bit from the 22 rounds of lumber Bell put on Mormeck prior but guess that goes for anyone after the fact. True true 3 belts qualify but still..the wbo ;D. Bell did go out rough. Came back for 1 win then next we heard he was being gunned down by street trash. Sad really.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

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Originally Posted by smashup

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Has always felt like he essentially retired after his first significant heavyweight win and initial defense. Think he could have done so much more but he settled on twitter wars and laying an egg in his showdown with "glass chin" Wlad. Wonder if he ever got his money back for those dumb t shirts. And I see it said a lot about unifying cruiser but did he really? I mean the wbo. while O'Neil Bell unified the 3 major belts Holyfield actually held.

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Thing is Bell won then lost the belts to the guy Haye bashed up in Mormeck then he (Bell) went on a losing streak and dissapeared, Haye was looking to move to Heavyweight well before he got the WBA, WBC and WBO plus the Ring mag belt in he Enzo fight.

3 belts qualifies for unifying and personally i think he'd have put Bell to sleep

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I dunno about Haye sleeping Bell but it's more plausible than the much talked about Haye v Holyfield 'what if' when he went up ;D. Bell could bang and he got Mormeck out first and he also grabbed The Ring belt. Surely Haye benefited a bit from the 22 rounds of lumber Bell put on Mormeck prior but guess that goes for anyone after the fact. True true 3 belts qualify but still..the wbo ;D. Bell did go out rough. Came back for 1 win then next we heard he was being gunned down by street trash. Sad really.

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I'll give you the WBO bit actually ;D you royal flushed me there ;D
Would have loved to see Haye v Bell, would have been a shootout i just think Haye had the speed to get in and land big first, shame we never saw it but the timing was all wrong unfortunately and i don't think Haye would have even if he could as he was telling anyone who'd listen he wanted the Heavyweight move as soon as he won the European strap.
Didn't Bell end up stabbed then shot during some robbery that turned bad?
Well very bad because he died :-X

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Originally Posted by smashup

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

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Originally Posted by smashup

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Has always felt like he essentially retired after his first significant heavyweight win and initial defense. Think he could have done so much more but he settled on twitter wars and laying an egg in his showdown with "glass chin" Wlad. Wonder if he ever got his money back for those dumb t shirts. And I see it said a lot about unifying cruiser but did he really? I mean the wbo. while O'Neil Bell unified the 3 major belts Holyfield actually held.

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Thing is Bell won then lost the belts to the guy Haye bashed up in Mormeck then he (Bell) went on a losing streak and dissapeared, Haye was looking to move to Heavyweight well before he got the WBA, WBC and WBO plus the Ring mag belt in he Enzo fight.

3 belts qualifies for unifying and personally i think he'd have put Bell to sleep

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I dunno about Haye sleeping Bell but it's more plausible than the much talked about Haye v Holyfield 'what if' when he went up ;D. Bell could bang and he got Mormeck out first and he also grabbed The Ring belt. Surely Haye benefited a bit from the 22 rounds of lumber Bell put on Mormeck prior but guess that goes for anyone after the fact. True true 3 belts qualify but still..the wbo ;D. Bell did go out rough. Came back for 1 win then next we heard he was being gunned down by street trash. Sad really.

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I'll give you the WBO bit actually ;D you royal flushed me there ;D
Would have loved to see Haye v Bell, would have been a shootout i just think Haye had the speed to get in and land big first, shame we never saw it but the timing was all wrong unfortunately and i don't think Haye would have even if he could as he was telling anyone who'd listen he wanted the Heavyweight move as soon as he won the European strap.
Didn't Bell end up stabbed then shot during some robbery that turned bad?
Well very bad because he died :-X

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Yeh for sure, all jokes aside no denying speed and power of Haye and what massive opportunity he had at that moment. Inexplicably though he made it to the mount, Wlad, and just left it at that and walked away for years. Bell always struck me a little off and had his problems with the law and a violent temper. Beat up a neighbor, hit a girlfriend and threw a hatchet at a friend in training camp. Later diagnosed Bi poler and court ordered medicated and was murdered getting off a bus just a month after he spent a couple years in prison.

David Haye was a piece of human garbage who is doing the sport of boxing a really good favored by finally getting the hell out hopefully this time permanently. He was never any good and was a complete charlatan from the very beginning. Completely overhyped. One listing all the problems he has had and all the physical injuries he forgot to mention the really biggest one of all time which was that little pinky toe injury he had against Klitschko hahaha

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Originally Posted by brocktonblockbust

David Haye was a piece of human garbage who is doing the sport of boxing a really good favored by finally getting the hell out hopefully this time permanently. He was never any good and was a complete charlatan from the very beginning. Completely overhyped. One listing all the problems he has had and all the physical injuries he forgot to mention the really biggest one of all time which was that little pinky toe injury he had against Klitschko hahaha

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He woulda beat your ass big time!;D

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Originally Posted by Primo Carnera

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Originally Posted by brocktonblockbust

David Haye was a piece of human garbage who is doing the sport of boxing a really good favored by finally getting the hell out hopefully this time permanently. He was never any good and was a complete charlatan from the very beginning. Completely overhyped. One listing all the problems he has had and all the physical injuries he forgot to mention the really biggest one of all time which was that little pinky toe injury he had against Klitschko hahaha

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He woulda beat your ass big time!;D

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Nah man, my money would be on Brock, did you see him training for GGG, Brock is a fucking machine

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Originally Posted by Batman

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Originally Posted by Primo Carnera

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Originally Posted by brocktonblockbust

David Haye was a piece of human garbage who is doing the sport of boxing a really good favored by finally getting the hell out hopefully this time permanently. He was never any good and was a complete charlatan from the very beginning. Completely overhyped. One listing all the problems he has had and all the physical injuries he forgot to mention the really biggest one of all time which was that little pinky toe injury he had against Klitschko hahaha

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He woulda beat your ass big time!;D

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Nah man, my money would be on Brock, did you see him training for GGG, Brock is a fucking machine

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Batman got that right, seriously, Haye would break his knuckles on my hips, shoulders, and bridge of my nose.

He could not take a three-punch body combination from me

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Originally Posted by brocktonblockbust

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Originally Posted by Batman

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Originally Posted by Primo Carnera

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Originally Posted by brocktonblockbust

David Haye was a piece of human garbage who is doing the sport of boxing a really good favored by finally getting the hell out hopefully this time permanently. He was never any good and was a complete charlatan from the very beginning. Completely overhyped. One listing all the problems he has had and all the physical injuries he forgot to mention the really biggest one of all time which was that little pinky toe injury he had against Klitschko hahaha

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He woulda beat your ass big time!;D

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Nah man, my money would be on Brock, did you see him training for GGG, Brock is a fucking machine

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Batman got that right, seriously, Haye would break his knuckles on my hips, shoulders, and bridge of my nose.

He could not take a three-punch body combination from me

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I could.... before ironing you out

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Originally Posted by smashup

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Originally Posted by brocktonblockbust

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Originally Posted by Batman

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Originally Posted by Primo Carnera

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Originally Posted by brocktonblockbust

David Haye was a piece of human garbage who is doing the sport of boxing a really good favored by finally getting the hell out hopefully this time permanently. He was never any good and was a complete charlatan from the very beginning. Completely overhyped. One listing all the problems he has had and all the physical injuries he forgot to mention the really biggest one of all time which was that little pinky toe injury he had against Klitschko hahaha

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He woulda beat your ass big time!;D

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Nah man, my money would be on Brock, did you see him training for GGG, Brock is a fucking machine

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Batman got that right, seriously, Haye would break his knuckles on my hips, shoulders, and bridge of my nose.

He could not take a three-punch body combination from me

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I could.... before ironing you out

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;D;D;D. “And the new.......”

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Originally Posted by brocktonblockbust

David Haye was a piece of human garbage who is doing the sport of boxing a really good favored by finally getting the hell out hopefully this time permanently. He was never any good and was a complete charlatan from the very beginning. Completely overhyped. One listing all the problems he has had and all the physical injuries he forgot to mention the really biggest one of all time which was that little pinky toe injury he had against Klitschko hahaha

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I have to take exception with part of what you said. What the hell do you mean by "hahaha"?

Classy way to go out

To be fair to Brock it is a pick 'em fight at this stage. 20% chance of Haye breaking both of his legs during the ring walk.

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Originally Posted by Gandalf

To be fair to Brock it is a pick 'em fight at this stage. 20% chance of Haye breaking both of his legs during the ring walk.

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Absolutely true. Tito fan is also right on the money I don't know what I meant by hahaha it was really bad to even mention that part.

Smash Up thinks he can take me out and that he could take that three-punch combination to the solar plexus but he doesn't understand that behind each one of my punches to his solar plexus is an awful lot of lasagna

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Originally Posted by brocktonblockbust

Tito fan is also right on the money I don't know what I meant by hahaha it was really bad to even mention that part.

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It's quite alright though. The rest of it was pure, unadulterated truth. ;)

David Haye is to spend the next year learning poker with the intent of taking part in the world’s largest tournament outside of Las Vegas once his apprenticeship is complete.

Haye, a destructive former world heavyweight and unified cruiserweight champion, retired from boxing in June after losing to Tony Bellew for the second time a month earlier.

The 37-year-old outlined his plans for the next 12 months at a press conference at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, which will host the Goliath event in 2019 in which he is aiming to make his name as a poker player.

“I’ve always been intrigued by the skill and strategy of poker, so to be able to have the opportunity to work with Grosvenor Casinos and learn from some of the best players on the world circuit was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” Haye said.

“The next 12 months will be exciting, but I am also acutely aware that they will also be extremely challenging. I’m a complete novice so it’s a huge ask, but I am looking forward to the challenge and getting my teeth into something new before taking on Goliath.”

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/dav...102600953.html

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Originally Posted by Master

David Haye is to spend the next year learning poker with the intent of taking part in the world’s largest tournament outside of Las Vegas once his apprenticeship is complete.

Haye, a destructive former world heavyweight and unified cruiserweight champion, retired from boxing in June after losing to Tony Bellew for the second time a month earlier.

The 37-year-old outlined his plans for the next 12 months at a press conference at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, which will host the Goliath event in 2019 in which he is aiming to make his name as a poker player.

“I’ve always been intrigued by the skill and strategy of poker, so to be able to have the opportunity to work with Grosvenor Casinos and learn from some of the best players on the world circuit was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” Haye said.

“The next 12 months will be exciting, but I am also acutely aware that they will also be extremely challenging. I’m a complete novice so it’s a huge ask, but I am looking forward to the challenge and getting my teeth into something new before taking on Goliath.”

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/dav...102600953.html

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Cue another visit to the Bankruptcy court.:rolleyes:

Then cue Haye v Bellew 3.