Filed under: Boxing
David Haye is adamant he will hang up his gloves before he turns 31 and is determined to go out style by beating Wladimir Klitschko in their much anticipated heavyweight unification fight on July 2. The question still remains, however, why a man still in his prime wants to walk away.One look at the Londoner in training yesterday at his gym and you know he's in top condition - an already perfectly-chiseled body frame and there's still two and a half weeks to go until his date with destiny arrives.
Haye believes his fight with the younger of the Klitschko siblings could be his last appearance in a ring, as a fighter at least.
The elder brother, Vitali, is already expected to fight in September, just one month before Haye celebrates his 31st birthday - his self-imposed date of retirement - leaving no room for a match-up to be made between them and no more challenges out there for Haye.
Fans and critics alike seem bemused as to why an athlete would want to leave the sport at such, in modern times, a young age.
Only recently American Bernard Hopkins became a world champion again at 46 and looked impeccable in doing so while Glen Johnson, at 42, gave British fighter Carl Froch a run for his money in a super-middleweight showdown just a few weeks ago.
But these are just two positive tales of veteran fighters going on seemingly past what should be their sell by date, and there are far too many sad stories of legendary boxers going on too long.
A look at 'The Greatest' tells the tale of how a fighter taking on a few fights too many can be detrimental.
When Muhammad Ali was beaten by Larry Holmes in 1980 at the age of 38, it was hard to watch as one of boxing's best ever took a beating.
Ali fought once more and lost again, but thankfully his legacy was not tainted by his later fights.
A more recent example is Roy Jones Jr who, at 42, continues to box on despite three defeats on the trot and eight in total, everyone knew the American lost his touch several years ago, except for himself.
Evander Holyfield is another who keeps turning up for fight after fight when he would be better off enjoying life instead of dangerously putting it at risk.
Nobody really knows what the likes of these veteran fighters are chasing beyond the obvious attraction of a payday, and while Haye is a long way behind them in years, he knows he doesn't want to get hooked in.
That is why the Londoner may be right to give it all up when his next birthday comes around and ending the Klitschko dominance is hardly a bad way to go out.
The Londoner wants to finish on top and be remembered as a champion, and while some argue he won't have left a lasting legacy, he believes he has done all he wants to achieve - just like Eric Cantona.
Haye told The Daily Mirror: "A fight against Vitali looks unlikely because he has agreed a September date with another opponent. So this could be my last fight.
"You have got to leave them wanting more. I like the way Eric Cantona went out - at the top.
"People want it both ways. You can't lament the fact that a fighter like Roy Jones Jr or Evander Holyfield has gone on too long and then ask why I'm retiring when I turn 31. There is always one more big fight out there. There's always another fight. There's always someone making some noise.
''But how great would it have been if Roy Jones had retired after he beat John Ruiz? How great would it have been if Holyfield had quit after he beat Tyson?
"Instead of which they have undone great legacies by going on too long. That's not going to happen to me."
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