By John F. McKenna (McJack: In a scenario that may play out over and over again over the next few months, it was reported in the Associated Press this morning that former World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight champion David Haye has elected to retire today on his 31st birthday as promised. In essence “The Hayemaker” is doing what he has said he would do all along.

Haye (25-2, 23 KO’s) had a more than respectable career winning the cruiserweight title before moving up to the heavyweight division. Haye won the WBA heavyweight title by defeating the 7’2” giant Nikolai Valuev in November 2009.

In June 2009 Haye pulled out of a fight with heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko citing unspecified injuries. “The Hayemaker” also pulled out of a fight with Vitali Klistchko which had been planned for later that summer. It was at that point that the Haye camp put together the Valuev fight.

Haye’s fight with Vladimir in July generated a tremendous amount of media hype and reignited world wide interest in the heavyweight division. David Haye, whatever one says about him is a gifted self promoter and a great “trash talker”. His antics in the lead up to the match with Vladimir included showing up at a news conference wearing a tee shirt which depicted the severed heads of the Klitschko brothers.

In addition David used the HBO 24/7 series as a platform to further hype the fight by insulting and trash talking the Klitschko’s. Haye’s antics drew him a 50/50 financial split in his fight with Vladimir. In that respect Haye was successful. His strategy to get Vladimir to crack under the pressure however, did not go as planned. Haye was soundly beaten by Vladimir, barely winning a round.

Haye, smarting from the one sided loss to Vladimir but not wanting to fight his way back into contention asked Vladimir to give him a rematch. “Dr. Steelhammer” made it clear that a rematch with Haye did not interest him.

At that point Vitali Klitschko said that he would like to fight Haye so that he could “send him to the floor. Vitali was not in the least bit humored by Haye’s antics and feels that David was attacking his family.

After Vitali’s TKO win over Tomasz Adamek on September 10 he called Haye out and repeated his wish to knock him out. After remaining silent since his loss to Vladimir, David spoke out. He had done some soul searching while on vacation with his family and had also discussed his future with former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis. Haye indicated that he in fact would like to fight Vitali if the terms could be worked out. There were even some barbs traded back and forth between David and Vitali. Then there was nothing more heard from the Klitschko camp. A few days ago Haye said that if he did not hear anything back from Vitali he would retire on October 13.

Bernd Boente, Vitali’s manager appeared to contradict Haye by saying that he had been in constant contact with the Haye camp. What it all comes down to is who are you going to believe?

It is nothing new for David Haye to play mind games in attempting to elicit a better deal. What better ploy then to say I’m going to retire on my 31st birthday unless I receive what I feel I’m entitled to?

Fighters have used the retirement ploy since time immemorial. One must question however why a fighter who is in his prime would cast all aside to bow out on such a low note as was Haye’s humiliating defeat to Wladimir Klitschko? For the remainder of his life he will have the constant nagging thought of what if.

Future boxing fans and historians will not remember Haye’s significant victories. They will not remember his winning the cruiserweight title and his impressive defenses of that title. Nor will they remember Haye’s win over Nikolai Valeuv. Thirty years from now when he is recognized walking down the street, Haye will be remembered for his pitiful performance against Vladimir Klitschko on July 2, 2011.