Editing David Haye (section)

===Early career===
Based in Bermondsey, Haye turned professional in December 2002, aged 22. In his first fight he defeated [[Tony Booth (boxer)|Tony Booth]] via second-round [[corner retirement]] (RTD).<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2002/dec/09/boxing.johnrawling | title=Haye makes barnstorming debut | first=John | last=Rawling | date=9 December 2002 | newspaper=The Guardian | access-date=17 September 2020 }}</ref> In 2003 he won seven fights, two of which were the only fights he has fought in the United States. He won all by [[knockout]] (KO), the most notable being a fourth-round KO of [[Lolenga Mock]], in which Haye had to come off the floor to win.

Haye's fights were regularly seen on the [[BBC Sport|BBC]] and his popularity began to grow in 2004, when he dispatched the 39-year-old former world champion [[Arthur Williams (boxer)|"King" Arthur Williams]] in three rounds.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/boxing-haye-hints-at-bright-future-by-crushing-williams-563221.html|title=Boxing: Haye hints at bright future by crushing Williams|date=12 May 2004|website=www.independent.co.uk/|access-date=13 December 2016}}</ref>

====Haye vs. Thompson====
Later that year, in his eleventh fight, he fought 40-year-old former [[List of WBO world champions#Junior heavyweight|WBO champion]] [[Carl Thompson (boxer)|Carl Thompson]] in a 'youth vs. experience' match-up. Haye started fast and alarmingly caught Thompson with constant barrages of power punches, coming close to forcing a stoppage at numerous points over the first few rounds.

Gradually, despite the early punishment he received, Thompson warmed up and worked his way into the fight whilst Haye seemed to tire and slow down. Thompson began to pressure Haye and knocked Haye down with a chopping right hand in round five. With seven seconds left in the round, Thompson landed two jabs followed by a flush right hand which cleanly caught a fatigued Haye, and compelled Haye's corner to throw in the towel; Haye was leading on all three scorecards before the stoppage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/boxing/sport/story/52688.html|title=Cocky Haye silenced by veteran Thompson|date=28 October 2010|website=ESPN|access-date=13 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thecomeback.com/queensberryrules/2014-articles/carl-thompson-weathers-cuts-down-david-haye.html|title=CARL THOMPSON WEATHERS, CUTS DOWN DAVID HAYE|date=25 December 2014|access-date=13 December 2016}}</ref>