David Haye enters tie-up with mogul Richard Schaefer to ‘empower’ new boxers

David “The Hayemaker” Haye has inked a deal with a US boxing kingpin to promote a string of big-money fights, as the former heavyweight champ marks out his career’s next chapter.

Haye, has joined forces with boxing promotions luminary Richard Schaefer, the architect of some of the biggest pay-per-view fights while chief executive of Golden Boy Promotions, to form Hayemaker Ringstar.

As he enters the “twilight” of his career, the 36-year old hopes to turn promising talent into world champions and “empower” them by giving them a fair cut.

Speaking at his personal gym under the railway arches in Vauxhall, the fighter told the Standard: “We are going to take over boxing promotion in the UK and we’re going to do it fairly. Boxing has been hampered by some negative stories surrounding promoters ripping off fighters and, being a fighter myself, I’m sickened when I hear these stories.

“[Schaefer] has an unrivalled track record of putting on the biggest fights and nurturing young talent.”

The 50-50 joint venture is one of a number of worldwide deals by Schaefer as he returns to the sport after a high-profile bust up with star fighter Oscar De La Hoya when chief executive of promotions giant Golden Boy.

Haye returned from injury after a three and a half year lay-off last year. The comeback, watched by 3.2 million, ruffled industry feathers as it appeared on free-to-air channel Dave. Haye hopes to strike similar deals for his fighters to raise the sport's profile in the UK. Schaefer plans to use his contacts to raise British fighters' profiles overseas.

The new firm's debut will be Haye's return to the ring in March against cruiserweight champ Tony Bellew at a sold-out O2 arena, a co-promotion with Eddie Hearn. Haye threw a punch at Bellew at a press conference to promote the fight last month.

Schaefer said: “Our job is to empower the fighters, try to make them the most money and pick the right fights.”

Haye is looking for charismatic young fighters to promote. “You can be the best fighter in the world but if you do not have the personality to match then no one's buying your tickets, buying t-shirts with your face on or paying for pay per view,” he said.

Haye said his career has “another two years, five or six fights left” and retains his ambition to regain his heavyweight title before retiring.