David Haye, awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science in 2010 by ARU, is a contemporary boxing legend known for his energy and professionalism.
He is the former World Boxing Association (WBA) world heavyweight champion and the former undisputed (WBA, WBC and WBO) world cruiserweight champion.
Boasting the hand and foot speed of a middleweight and simply unimaginable power, he scooped and unified all the major world cruiserweight titles within an explosive four-month period, before venturing to heavyweight and capturing the WBA heavyweight title.
Born in 1980 in Bermondsey, South London, David's progression towards combat sports was a natural one encouraged by his parents. At one point he was steered towards martial arts but at just ten years of age, stepped into the Fitzroy Lodge boxing gym and quickly caught the bug. Over the years, Fitzroy Lodge would become his home. It was the place he could fully express himself.
Articulate and intelligent, David realised the importance of school grades but was lured by the riches and accolades of boxing. He left school at 15 with no qualifications but enough grounding to understand that sport is business.
He began his professional career as a cruiserweight in 2002. Blessed with a knack of ending fights in dramatic style and intent on taking risks, 'The Hayemaker' quickly became a UK favourite and ultimately The Ring magazine's Champion.
Cruiserweight fights saw him beat WBO title holder Enzo MAccarinelli and his high-profile battle with Monty 'Two Gunz' Barrett signalled the arrival of David Haye in the heavyweight division. His title shot came against 23 stone world champion Nikolai Valuev in 2009. Overcoming the 'Goliath' of boxing in 12 rounds, he fulfilled his life-long dream of lifting the WBA world heavyweight title and now installed as champion, he looks to replicate his cruiserweight success and unify the heavyweight titles.
He took on the respected American John Ruiz, displaying dazzling speed and power, where he became only the second man ever to stop Ruiz, hitting harder and more consistently than ever.
He is now earmarked as the 'saviour' of boxing. Described by The Sunday Times as 'charismatic, good-looking and exciting', he is still relishing the challenge the sport brings.
While enjoying his achievements, David has worked to give something back to the sport and has used his entrepreneurial skills to develop his international Hayemaker business, which helps develop young talented boxers who are looking to become professionals in the sport.