David Haye wants four more fights before retiring

[sonny78]

Britain's WBA heavyweight champion David Haye hopes to fight four more times before retiring in 2011.

But Haye, who stopped American John Ruiz in nine rounds in Manchester on Saturday, admitted he might only have time for three.
"I want to retire before I'm 31," 29-year-old Haye told BBC Sport.
"Four fights would be ambitious and I'd need to get cracking so the sooner we can get these fights (with Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko) sorted the better."


Haye hopes to fight either of the Klitschko brothers next as he bids to unify the heavyweight division, with Vitali holding the WBC belt and his brother Wladimir, the WBO, IBF and IBO titles.
And after selling out Manchester's MEN Arena for his first title defence, Haye says he would "love" to fight either of the Ukrainians at London's Wembley Stadium in front of 80,000 people.
That fight could reportedly be worth £10m to each fighter, although the Londoner says his legacy is the only incentive he has in boxing.
"Money doesn't really enter my head in terms of boxing," Haye told BBC Sport.
"All I focus on is being the best boxer I can be. Money is not the reason I want to fight the Klitschko brothers, I want to prove I am the best. By beating them money will follow but for me it's all about the legacy and the glory."
Haye, who has only lost once in 25 fights, added that he hoped to be known as the best British boxer of his generation and as "the man that fought the best possible guys in a short space of time and who always gave value for money."
Victory over both of the Klitschko brothers would elevate Haye's name alongside the greats of British boxing history but he believes he will never surpass the achievements of former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.
"I think Lennox Lewis, for what he did in boxing in dominating the division for so many years, should be known as the best," admitted Haye.
Haye said a fight with either of the Klitschko brothers was far from close to being agreed but believed either would be a "genuine grudge match" because they both despise him.
"They're the guys that hold other title belts, so in an ideal world I'd like to snatch their belts off them and add them to my mantle," he told BBC Sport.
"I want those big fights, I want the fights that the fans want to see.
"We're going to start sitting around the table. They've both got fights coming up, so once they've got their obligations out of the way, we'll sit down and thrash it out.
"Whenever we do get in the ring, it's going to be an amazing fight."
Despite Haye's preference for Wembley, if a fight with one of the Klitschko brothers is agreed, it could instead take place in the United States because of his link-up with Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy promotions.
After his demolition of Ruiz, it would be a fight that would sell well on the other side of the Atlantic.
Meanwhile, a re-match with Russian Nikolay Valuev, who he defeated in November 2009 to win the heavyweight title, could also be on the agenda for Haye.
Business partner and trainer Adam Booth has vowed to sit down with Sauerland Promotions, who represent Valuev, and Golden Boy in the coming weeks.



From here

BBC Sport - David Haye wants four more fights before retiring

[HattonTheHammer]

pathetic

However good a fighter you claim to be you can never cement any kind of legacy through 25,26 outings

This is hayes way of saying, "i wanna fight a shot klitschko in 2years time, beat them and give nobody else the opportunity to take my crown away"

Its quite feasible to sustain your power and speed throughout the years especially within the heavyweight division where your not required to meet physical conditions every so often.

You would never of heard lewis coming out with crap like this. He retired when he realised he no longer had it left in him, the perfect way to go out

[killersheep]

So if he plans on keeping the WBA title his last four fights will look like this

1st - Valuev II

2nd - Holyfield

3rd - Ruiz II

4th - Valuev III

[Althugz]

I'm starting to like Haye more and more.

He's another loud-mouth but a genuine one. Not claiming to be the best, he's leaving that to Lewis. I respect him for staying grounded.

If he wants to leave in 4 fights time, fantastic for him. He will still have his senses and be a millionaire as well as hopefully unifiying a boring as hell heavyweight division. What else would be left? If another heavy comes along who looks amazing then yeah, there will be a clamour for him to fight but I don't see that happening any time soon.

I hope he can do it and leave with his head held high.

However, I'm only allowing him one more fight without the North Cyprus flag on his shorts before I turn on him It's unacceptable

[nigel2smooth]

How would Haye fair against the Kilitschkos, I dont know much about either brother as dont really follow the hevey weight devision.

[Master]

A lot of fighters say they want to retire in a couple of fights, from what he is saying he wants the Klits now, which is crazy but at least you can respect him. hopefully valuev can be stepped a side or even fight the other brother in a semi final type clash.

[porkypara]

I'm starting to like Haye more and more.

He's another loud-mouth but a genuine one. Not claiming to be the best, he's leaving that to Lewis. I respect him for staying grounded.

If he wants to leave in 4 fights time, fantastic for him. He will still have his senses and be a millionaire as well as hopefully unifiying a boring as hell heavyweight division. What else would be left? If another heavy comes along who looks amazing then yeah, there will be a clamour for him to fight but I don't see that happening any time soon.

I hope he can do it and leave with his head held high.

However, I'm only allowing him one more fight without the North Cyprus flag on his shorts before I turn on him It's unacceptable

The flag was on the shorts on Saturday I am sure.

I think.

[ono]

Those 4 fights will be taken up by rematch clauses if he beats either Klit.

[Nameless]

He'll make 3-4 more fights, retire for a year, beat drums and trumpets for the sake of promotion and come back again to chase and avenge his defeat to Wladimir Klitschko. I don't buy that 3-4 last fights story at all.

[paddy448]

I can respect his decision. Get in, do ur thing make ur money then get out with ur marbles intact

[Hunter]

Is it me or has Hayes toned down the shit talking and cockiness? I didn't really pay attention much to the Ruiz fight so don't know how he acted before that fight.....

[paddy448]

Is it me or has Hayes toned down the shit talking and cockiness? I didn't really pay attention much to the Ruiz fight so don't know how he acted before that fight.....

He was quite subdued too be honest, the closest thing I heard him say to trash talking was him sayin that ruiz won't go the distance. But that's clutching at straws really. Think their was genuine respect for ruiz from haye. I expect that mouth going overtime tho once the klit fights r signed

[El Kabong]

So if he plans on keeping the WBA title his last four fights will look like this

1st - Valuev II

2nd - Holyfield

3rd - Ruiz II

4th - Valuev III

No Audley Harrison?!?! Doesn't that British title mean anything anymore?!?!

[smashup]

So if he plans on keeping the WBA title his last four fights will look like this

1st - Valuev II

2nd - Holyfield

3rd - Ruiz II

4th - Valuev III

No Audley Harrison?!?! Doesn't that British title mean anything anymore?!?!

Getting a bit tiresome this Haye hating anti uk pattern your spouting Lyle...

I've been reading through most of these threads since the Ruiz fight and every one your just finding different angles to slate him.

Does it piss you off that much that your own country is now non existent in a division you once dominated for so long?

Pre Lennox of course

Why not just start a thread of your own, maybe calling it the "I hate Haye Thread" and chat bollocks to yourself and anyway how did you watch it from the deep realms of Wlads bumhole?

Do they have television up their?

All i saw was a breath of fresh air on Sat night and any true fight fan would be insane not to agree fella.

Embrace Haye for what he is...exciting, charismatic and brilliantly exciting to watch.

He's only had 4 fights at Heavy and in those he's won the title and defended it in style.

Kudos to the Hayemaker.

End of

[El Kabong]

Smash I did start a thread like that (eons ago). I don't hate ALL UK fighters, just the prima donnas, this WBA title holder, Prince Naz, I'm not fond of Calzaghe but I give him his dues and I don't hate Lennox Lewis or Frank Bruno or Nigel Benn or Chris Eubank...so just chill out with your "Lyle hates Brits" bs!

The fact is even if your boy was the "real deal" (and he isn't) you wouldn't give Wlad any credit for beating him and mark my words Wlad WILL beat him. That makes YOU and this chump's supporters guilty of not giving Wlad his props you never have and you never will but that's ok with me, I know talent when I see it. Your guy is a good foe to have because he's a self promoter but Wlad isn't in any real danger fighting him.