David Haye reveals he never expected to retire as an all time great heavyweight champion – Boxing
Former World Boxing Association world heavyweight champion, David Haye, has revealed he never thought of going down as an all time great heavyweight champion.
The 31-year-old brash Londoner officially announced his retirement from the sport of boxing last Thursday in a news conference in London on his birthday. Haye stated he never considered himself going down as an all time great. Therefore, he does not have
any regrets.
Haye said, “I’ve never claimed to be the greatest and I`m not foolish or arrogant enough to think my place in history will be defined by what I achieved as a heavyweight.”
Haye fought Wladimir Klitschko in a mega unification bout on July 2, 2011 at the Hamburg’s Football Stadium in Germany. It was one of the biggest bouts in the British history but Haye suffered a humiliating defeat on the fight night, as he lost the fight
via unanimous points’ decision.
Haye, who was more commonly known as the Hayemaker, admitted it was a lifetime chance for him to dominate the heavyweight division.
“I never expected to go down as an all time great heavyweight champion. Despite being undersized, I’d always dreamed of one day ruling the same division as my heroes Muhammad Ali and Lennox Lewis both dominated,” he said.
In the end, Haye commented on Wladimir Klitschko and Vitali Klitschko. Wladimir currently holds the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO Super, IBO and Ring Magazine championship belts whereas his elder brother Vitali is the current WBC champion. Klitschko is also the
7th longest reigning Heavyweight Champion in the history still Haye thinks even the Klitschkos will find themselves tough being viewed as heavyweight greats.
“Even the dominant Klitschko brothers will have a tough time being viewed as heavyweight greats in this era as the talent pool simply hasn’t been deep enough since Lennox Lewis hung up his gloves in 2003,” Haye added.
Haye, who during his career held a record of winning 25 of his 27 professional fights, with 23 of his wins coming by the way of a knockout, has now plans to pursue his career as a Hollywood actor.
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