David Haye announces retirement from boxing following defeat by Tony Bellew

The former world heavyweight and cruiserweight champion has retired from the sport

David Haye has called time on his boxing career (Getty)

David Haye has announced his retirement from boxing following his fifth-round stoppage loss to Tony Bellew last month.

The 37-year-old has called time on his 32-fight career, with a professional record of 28-4.​

“My 16-year, 32-fight professional career was one of two halves,” he said in a statement published on Twitter.

“In the first eight years, everything ran smoothly. I had 25 fights and became the first ever British boxer to unify the cruiserweight division (WBA, WBC and WBO World Championships).

“I then achieved my childhood dream when I beat WBA Heavyweight Champion of the World Nikolay Valuev.

“Lifting that World Heavyweight Championship meant I’d fulfilled a promise I’d made to my mum, Jane, at the age of three.

“It also meant I was the second boxer in history – after Evander Holyfield – to win world titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight. That was an incredibly proud moment for me and my family and friends.”

Haye became the first British boxer to become a unified cruiserweight world champion when he stopped Enzo Maccarinelli in 2008, winning three of the four major world titles.

He then stepped up to heavyweight, winning the WBA title in 2009 after defeating Nikolai Valuev in Nuremberg.

Haye initially retired from boxing after beating Dereck Chisora in 2012, only to return to the sport four years later. He stopped both Mark de Mori and Arnold Gjergjaj before twice losing to Bellew.