David Haye is expected to mark his 31st birthday today by announcing his retirement from boxing - despite claims he is still in talks over a world title fight with Vitali Klitschko.

Haye has long stated his intention to quit on his 31st birthday, but today's announcement is likely to be tenuous at best with Klitschko said to be "100 per cent" confident of tempting him back into the ring.

However, former WBA heavyweight champion Haye is set to at least quell suggestions that he might seek to rebuild his career either in the cruiserweight division or against one of a number of other projected heavyweight contenders.

Only the financial rewards of another meeting with a Klitschko are likely to persuade Haye to lace back on the gloves, although such a fight would prove a much harder sell since his loss to Wladimir in July.

Haye attracted scorn for the way he appeared to blame his one-sided points defeat on a toe injury, and many experts said afterwards the Londoner had no chance of dethroning either of the much bigger Klitschko brothers.

Retirement announcements in boxing have long been suspect, with many fighters - with the obvious exceptions of Lennox Lewis and Joe Calzaghe - tempted back for often misguided comeback bouts.

However it is only in recent years that fighters have come to announce their retirements with the full intention of fighting on. Floyd Mayweather routinely retires after each of his bouts.

The British Boxing Board of Control announced this week that Haye had indicated he would not seek to renew his licence in December. However he is still able to re-apply for a licence at any time.