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'Unrealistic' Vitali offer forced Haye's hand - Froch

David Haye retired on his 31st birthday © PA Photos

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David Haye could still be tempted out of retirement by the promise of a significant pay-day against Vitali Klitschko, according to WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch.

Haye retired from boxing on Thursday, keeping his promise to walk away from the sport on his 31st birthday. Earlier in the week, Klitschko's manager Bernd Boente claimed Haye could be tempted out of retirement in February or March 2012 by a fight with Vitali - but the Brit has laughed off those suggestions, and hinted that the two camps disagreed over money during preliminary discussions.

And while Froch believes Haye should stay in shape just in case Vitali comes calling in future, he is backing the former WBA heavyweight champion's decision to quit.

"He's had a chat with Vitali and they're probably not being realistic with the offer they're making, so David's thinking to himself: you know what, I've had a great career, I've got a beautiful family, it's time to hang my gloves up. Fair play to him, if that's his decision he needs to stand by it," Froch told Sky Sports.

"You never know do you [if he'll come back], you can never say never in boxing. He is officially retired, but if they come and start talking silly money about a fight with Vitali - and the fans want to see it - then you never know, he may step out of retirement. He's certainly young enough to.

"I think at the moment he should stay retired, enjoy his retirement, and just keep living clean like he does do, so he could come out of retirement if the fans demanded it or he wanted to. If there's big, big money on the table I'm sure he might be prised out of retirement."

Froch has urged Haye to pay no attention to those who suggest his reputation will be forever stained by a resounding loss to Wladimir Klitschko during July. "There'll always be a shadow over his heavyweight career because he got beat by Wladimir Klitschko, but Wlad was twice the size of him and heavier than him. He went the distance with a guy who knocks most people over," Froch said.

"He was the unified cruiserweight champion. People will probably look back and say he's not an all-time great heavyweight, but I don't think David will care. He's achieved what he set out to achieve and he can happily retire. You probably wouldn't put him up there with some of the best heavyweights in the world, but people are fickle, people like to pick fault. I've got my own critics and you just pay no attention to them."

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