LONDON, Nov 18: Former world heavyweight champion David Haye said on Sunday he was contemplating retirement on medical grounds after revealing he has a severe shoulder injury.

The London boxer has pulled out of a rescheduled February 8 bout with British rival Tyson Fury and now looks set to call time on his career after an operation last week failed to rectify his shoulder problem.

“It’s a crushing blow for me,” he said. “I had big plans for next year and the ultimate goal was to win back the world heavyweight title.

“But perhaps it just wasn’t meant to be. The boxing gods keep hinting that maybe enough is enough and that it’s time to finally hang up my gloves.”

The 33-year-old former World Boxing Association (WBA) champion underwent a five-hour operation to reconstruct his right shoulder in Germany on Thursday but has since been told to “seriously consider” retirement.

“I’ve been boxing for 23 years now, amateur and pro, and this has clearly taken its toll on my body.”—AFP