• Boxing

Haye slaps Vitali with Thursday deadline

ESPN staff
October 10, 2011
David Haye has claimed for years that he will not box past the age of 31 © Getty Images
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David Haye might be entering his final days as a professional boxer after Adam Booth, his manager and trainer, confirmed the former WBA heavyweight champion could retire on Thursday.

For years, Haye has said that he will walk away from the sport when he turns 31 on October 13 - but last month he said he would delay his exit if Vitali or Wladimir Klitschko agreed to fight him.

Although Vitali is known to be keen on meeting Haye, there have been no suggestions from either camp that negotiations have begun. And Booth says that if an offer is not forthcoming in the next couple of days, then Haye will hang up his gloves.

"It's one thing him saying he wants to fight David and another them actually offering something. The status quo is unchanged," Booth told the Mirror. "Next Thursday is when David will make his decision. That's his birthday and he said he would retire when he was 30."

Haye surrendered the WBA strap to Wladimir during July, losing a wide points decision in Germany, and few expect him to fare any better against Vitali, the WBC king. Vitali was in fearsome form during his most recent outing, knocking out Tomasz Adamek in the tenth round.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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