David Haye Quotes

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David Haye

Profession : Athlete

Birth : October 13, 1980

Although boxing is a sport, it's still entertainment. You've still got the fear, press conferences, the stare-downs. It's all an act in some ways. My whole life I've been doing it. I love this side of boxing - as much as the actual fight.

David Haye

I'm a showman.

David Haye

The bigger the pressure, the sharper I am, the more in tune with my body I am, the better my tactics seem to be. A lot of people crumble under pressure; they do something crazy.

David Haye

In the lead-up to fights, I'm very relaxed, very calm.

David Haye

It's the warm-up in the changing room when I switch on. I don't even think about the fight until then. Some fighters are bouncing about the walls, but I switch off. Then it's like someone flicks a switch in me.

David Haye

When I'm training, I use heavier crepe for wraps, for protection - but you're not allowed to use them in competition. So when it comes to the fight, the wraps are softer.

David Haye

It would be nice to crack America, but I need the opponent to do that. If Eddie Chambers is the best American heavyweight they can dig up, it's a very sad state of affairs.

David Haye

It's always my plan to knock out my opponents.

David Haye

It's often my opponent's plan to take me into the later rounds, but the amount of damage that has accumulated on them means they don't hear the final bell.

David Haye

Winning the title then losing it to John Ruiz... I'd be devastated.

David Haye

Just before a fight, as the ring empties, you can feel it. There is danger and loneliness all around you. Soon it's just the three of you in there: the referee, your opponent, and you. You're in a very lonely moment then. But, strangely, that's when I feel most comfortable. The ring becomes my office, and I go to work.

David Haye

Look what the Rumble in the Jungle did for Zaire. No one had ever heard of Zaire until then. After Muhammad Ali fought George Foreman for the title, no one forgets it.

David Haye

What I want to achieve in boxing is worldwide. I want to show I'm not just a British commodity... To do that, you have to fight the best and fight all over the world.

David Haye

You need to stay hungry and not allow someone like John Ruiz to come over and mess you up in front of all your fans.

David Haye

It's sad to see boxers sometimes when they've come from these massive highs with thousands of people screaming for them. They're the best at what they do - then, that's it: stopped, finished.

David Haye

Slowly but surely, as time goes on, people forget about you. People stop talking about you. You stop seeing your name in the papers. I like to believe that I don't think that will bother me. As long as I know I've achieved my goals and people believe I'm the best at what I do, then I'll be happy.

David Haye

My performance against Ruiz was a good one - there were plenty of knockdowns, excitement, and drama.

David Haye

If I hit the Klitschkos with the same shots I was hitting John Ruiz, both of them would go over.

David Haye

I want to fight who the fans who want me to fight.

David Haye

Bernard Hopkins is one of my idols.

David Haye