David Haye finished 2010 with a flourish by stopping Audley Harrison in the Battle of Britain. He looks back over a memorable year in the ring heavyweight division.

Having successfully negotiated his mandatory challenge in March, then emphatically won the first all-British heavyweight title fight for 17 years in November, this has been perhaps the defining year of David Haye’s career. But, should he stick to his promise, 2010 will be the big-hitting Londoner’s last full year in boxing. We ask the Hayemaker about the last 12 months as champion, his burning desire to take on the Klitschkos and taking Audley Harrison out for a pint.

Q: You became heavyweight champion in 2009, but how big was 2010 for your career?

A: The last 12 months have been brilliant for my career, as I’ve twice successfully defended my world title and further established my position in the heavyweight division. In terms of legacy, I’ve probably had better years previously, but 2010 has helped me increase my profile and fan base massively. My fights with John Ruiz and Audley Harrison both sold out Manchester’s M.E.N Arena and they both did really good numbers on Pay-Per-View. Those events allowed me to get my name out there a bit more and become a recognisable face in this country. Also, I won both fights by knockout, which is always a bonus for a puncher like me. 

Q: And what about British boxing generally over the last twelve months? We’ve seen success for the likes of Amir Khan and Ricky Burns – but Rendall Munroe and Kevin Mitchell both fell short. Would you say it has been a good year or a bad year for British boxing in general?

A: I’d say good, simply because we’ve seen British guys involved in world title fights going up against the best in the world. Some may have fallen short, but it’s encouraging to know we have plenty of fighters in the mix for world belts. In the case of Rendall, he was ballsy enough to go abroad and fight the best in the world, so that needs to be commended. He will come on so much because of that experience and it’s great to see our young British fighters ready to test themselves on foreign territory.

Q: Back to you – having started the year with the heavyweight championship belt around your waist, what were your aspirations for 2010 at the start of the year?

A: My plan was to defend my new belt against my mandatory challenger, John Ruiz, then hopefully secure a unification clash with one of the Klitschkos – they’ve always been at the top of my wanted list, no matter what anybody says. As it happened, the Klitschko fights became difficult to make and I needed another opponent to face before the end of the year. That’s when Audley Harrison’s name entered the equation and I realised we could put together a huge crossover event in Britain.

Q: Ruiz came to the UK with the reputation of being a slightly dull, defensive boxer but you were keen to stress he was a dangerous opponent. How tough was he?

A: Ruiz was very tricky, because he was famously tough and also because I’d struggled for sparring in the run-up to the fight. I received a cut over my eye during sparring for the fight and that forced me to cut short my sparring and made me re-think my training. In the end, I had next to no sparring and it showed in my lack of sharpness and timing. Ruiz was in the best physical and mental shape of his career and he gave it a really good go. He was undoubtedly one of the toughest men I’ve ever faced. He took some huge shots throughout the fight and never once looked for a way out. Although I wouldn’t call it my best performance, I felt I performed well under the circumstances. No matter what way you cut it, a stoppage win over Ruiz is a very good result. 

Q: That fight took place back on English soil, how nice was it to ‘come home’, belt in hand, and fight in front of your fans?

A: There’s no better feeling than fighting in your home country, as the fans are incredibly passionate and vocal. Nothing thrills me more than when I walk to the ring in front of 20,000 fans dancing along to ‘Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now’. I’d say it was definitely one of the best days of my life winning out there in front of all those fans.

Q: Audley Harrison was up next – and he certainly isn’t a Klitschko. A bit of a curve ball perhaps?

A: The fight itself didn’t appeal to me much, but the event elementmost certainly did. British boxing needs events like that one to pull itself up from being underground. The Harrison fight hit front and back pages and that can only be good for the sport. Audley has known me for years – he knows how devastating I am in the ring. He knows it first hand from sparring sessions. I’m no joke but he is a south paw and I hadn’t fought one since Alexander Gurov in 2005. He was in great shape and had a great camp.

Q: There was a lot of bad blood and trash talk in the build up to the fight, but you put all that to bed with an emphatic third-round knock-out. Did you expect anything less?

A: I could’ve taken him out earlier if I really put my foot on the pedal but there was no need, I was being patient and waiting for the perfect opportunity to land my ‘Hayemaker.’ I’m convinced I can crush anyone in the world, I’m in great condition and I can land punches whenever I choose to. No way was it going into a fourth round. As for the verbal sparring, we straightened it out in the ring and I think the bad blood is gone now. I’ve known him for many years and I wouldn’t mind taking him out for a drink. 

Q: So with 2010 done and dusted, let’s look ahead to next year and the fight everyone wants to see – Haye v Klitschko. Will it happen?

A: It has to and if it doesn’t happen next year, I’ll never fight a Klitschko. I’m confident it will happen, though, as they now realise I am the only fight out there thatmakes sense and money. They have nothing without me and I will do everything in my power to make it happen. As a heavyweight, those fights would certainly establish my legacy in the division. I said I’d be the undisputed cruiser weight champion, everyone said I wouldn’t. But I did it, so have a little bit of faith. I’ll fight either one of them– just give me a few hours rest in between.

Q: Next October, you turn 31 – the age at which you have stated you’ll retire. Is that date for definite in your eyes?

A: Yes, it’s a definite. I’ve not even thought beyond that point, to be honest. As far as I’m concerned, my career ends on my 31st birthday. That gives me a small time frame to achieve everything I want to achieve as a heavyweight, but I feel it can be done. I’ve never been one to go back on a promise. I’ve been boxing since I was 10 years old, and so have been doing this thing for 20 years now. That’s a long time. Assuming everything goes to plan, I stand to achieve everything I want to achieve in this sport by next October. If that’s the case, what is the point of carrying on beyond October?

Q: So after 20 years in the sport, you hang up the gloves, what’s next?

A: I’m still not sure because I still have a lot to cram into my remaining time in boxing and I’m hell-bent on achieving all my goals before my time is up. Beyond boxing, who knows? I would love to get involved with films and television, and I will also continue to work on my Hayemaker magazine. I may also continue working with boxers from a promotional position. Who knows? I think it’s a case of crossing that bridge when I come to it.