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Retiring Haye wants to emulate Eric Cantona

David Haye will retire in October © Getty Images

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David Haye has admitted his seemingly premature retirement party is inspired by Eric Cantona.

Haye is a little over two weeks away from the biggest fight of his professional career against IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. The pair meet on July 2 in Hamburg, just three months before the October deadline Haye has set for his exit from the sport.

If he sticks to his plan, which he promises to do, it seems unlikely he would have time to prepare for one more fight, against Wladimir's brother: Vitali. Currently in the best form of his career, Haye's retirement feels like it is arriving too soon, but the Brit is 31 in October and he insists he has learned from a former Manchester United great.

"You've got to leave fans wanting more. I like the way Eric Cantona went out - on top," Haye said in the Sun.

"Cantona went out on his terms, I love people who go out that way and not because doctors are saying you can't box or managers say you are no longer a good footballer or have failed a physical.

"You can't have it both ways. You can't complain when a fighter fights too long. Everyone complains about Evander Holyfield fighting at 48 and Roy Jones at 42. Then you get someone trying to retire in their prime like Cantona did and I aim to do and it's like, 'No. We want to keep you fighting until it's too late and you are a bit of cabbage'.

"That's never been my plan or ambition. I'll get out in my prime just like Cantona did, despite United manager Sir Alex Ferguson wanting him to stay on.

"Cantona had achieved all he wanted by 30, I will by the same age when I beat Klitschko."

Surely the chance for Haye to unify the heavyweight division by taking Vitali's WBC title would prove too much of a temptation?

"There's always another fight. There were plenty of noises made about Lennox Lewis making a comeback but he got out after he took apart Vitali Klitschko's face. Lennox went out after beating a Klitschko and that would be the perfect way for me to get out."

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