• Boxing

Haye stands firm on retirement vow

ESPN staff
September 6, 2010
David Haye won the WBA heavyweight title from Nikolay Valuev in November 2009 © Getty Images
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David Haye insists he has no intention of going back on his vow to retire from boxing at the age of 30.

The WBA heavyweight champion is expected to confirm on Tuesday a much-anticipated bout against British rival Audley Harrison, and he has his sights set on unifying the division within the next 12 months.

But although potential fights against Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko are stuck in the early stages of negotiations, Haye is refusing to back down on his vow to turn his back on the sport next year.

"I've said from when I turned pro I'll retire when when I'm 30, so that gives me until October 13 next year," Haye said.

"A lot of people think it's a stupid deadline. It made a lot more sense when I was 17. Now that I'm closing in on 30 and there are these massive fights around the corner, 30 perhaps isn't as old as I thought it once was.

"Now there are potential multi-million pound fights against anyone I want, people seem to think it's a silly thing to do. But I've always stuck to my guns."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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