World heavyweight king Haye will retire at 31 with his ‘money and marbles’ intact

LONDON - The WBA world heavyweight king David Haye has said that he wants to quit boxing after he turns 31 next October because he does not want his record ruined if he continued playing after the specified date.

Fights against fellow world champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko are edging closer and could reportedly net him a total of 25 million pounds.

The Sun quoted Haye as saying that he would do everything in his power to make both happen within his time-frame.

“I have seen too many fighters like Roy Jones Jnr, Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali, some of the greatest fighters in the world, box on too long. If you asked them what they would take back I’m sure it would be time, they damaged their legacy,” he said.

“Even though people know they only lost because they were old, they still lost and when you look at their records in a 100 years time, they lost to him… and to him… and to him and then they retired. I’d hate to be in a situation where you only give your opponents a chance of beating you because you are old,” Haye added.

He further stated that he plans to leave with his body and mind in good shape.

“I want to get out with two things - money and marbles. I don’t want to ruin my health by taking too many punches,” he stated.

Haye along with trainer Adam Booth had set three goals when they got into this game, he said. The first was to achieve as many titles as possible, second was to make huge money, and thirdly to get out with all the faculties intact.

“That’s what I intend to do before I am 31,” he claimed. (ANI)