David Haye Professional Record Overview
David Haye competed as a professional boxer from 2002 to 2018, finishing his career with a record of 28 wins and 3 losses, with 26 wins coming by knockout, according to BoxRec and major boxing databases BoxRec. His final record places him among the most prolific knockout artists in heavyweight history, with a 93 percent knockout rate across 31 contests.
Haye won world titles in two weight classes, capturing the WBA cruiserweight title in 2007 and the WBA heavyweight title in 2009, as documented by major sanctioning bodies and boxing media BoxingNews24. His division-hopping success included wins over notable opponents such as Nikolay Valuev, John Ruiz, and Enzo Maccarinelli.
Key Fights and Career Milestones
Haye's most famous victory came against towering heavyweight champion Nikolay Valuev in 2009, a fight he won by majority decision to claim the WBA heavyweight belt ESPN Boxing. The win was widely regarded as one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight history, given Valuev's height and reach advantage.
In 2011, Haye faced Wladimir Klitschko in a highly anticipated unification bout, losing by unanimous decision in a contest that drew over 90,000 fans to the Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany Greater London Authority. The loss marked a turning point, as Haye later admitted he had not trained adequately for the fight.
Comeback and Final Years
After a three-year retirement, Haye returned to the ring in 2016, winning two consecutive fights before scheduling a bout with Tony Bellew in 2017, which he lost by technical knockout in the eleventh round Bleacher Report. The fight, held at The O2 Arena in London, generated significant pay-per-view revenue and marked Haye's final professional appearance.
Following the Bellew loss, Haye announced his retirement from boxing, stating that he had no further plans to compete professionally, as reported by multiple outlets including Sky Sports and BBC Sport BBC Sport. His legacy remains that of a charismatic, division-crossing heavyweight who challenged for titles at both cruiserweight and heavyweight during the 2000s and 2010s.