Egos will collide when former heavyweight champion and current cruiserweight titleholder Tony Bellew fight on March 4th at the 02 arena in London next year. The fight will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Pay Per View.
There is speculation that Shannon Briggs was originally going to face Haye in September earlier this year although things suddenly went quiet on that front. The Londoner and Liverpudlian have some history together, although, however much of it is true is up for debate. Bellew claimed that he got the best of Haye in the gym when he was still only an amateur while Haye was contesting for the British professional title.
Furthermore, he has also criticised Haye’s current training techniques, claiming his body frame does not look “right” for a boxer, as well as his olden situations with Wladimir Klitschko and his former plan to fight Briggs. But Haye seems to be taking it all in his stride!
“It is like a chihuahua fighting a pitbull,” Haye has been quoted as saying.
Haye added, “Bellew is completely delusional if he thinks he can beat me. He still thinks he’s on the set of Creed and there will be some kind of Rocky style happy ending. But come March 4th, I will bring reality crashing down on him.”
The current WBC cruiserweight champion is on top form right now after having crushed BJ Flores in 3 rounds in October and winning the vacant title in the same round previously in May. It is fair to say that Bellew has bosting power at cruiserweight but it is questionable as to whether that will be carried successfully up to heavyweight. Bellew’s body is quite soft in appearance at cruiserweight so it cannot be expected for him to look solid when he steps up.
David Haye has not seen cruiserweight in eight years and he could be at a disadvantage if he lost weight for the grudge match. Boxers like Oscar De La Hoya were pulverised into submission after going back down to a weight they had not been at in years after their body was significantly weakened, and with the Hayemaker only really recently putting on extra muscle weight it would be foolish on his part.
No title is on the line for this one, but it probably does not need one. No doubt the build up will be enough to gain sufficient interest seeing as the two are plenty charismatic, especially Tony Bellew. It is unlikely that the tension between the two will boil over physically seeing as there is plenty of money to be made. But the last time David Haye had a big fight on the horizon against Tyson Fury he pulled out. Twice. Is there a chance of that happening again for this bout for any reason? Only Haye knows that.
The last big fight he took part in was four years ago when he beat Dereck Chisora in 5 rounds at Upton Park. Afterwards, he took a four year break before returning this year with two empty wins over Mark De Mori and Arnold Gjergjaj. Those didn’t tell us much apart from that his power and speed is still evident. But those have always been Haye’s two biggest assets so not much else matters.
It would be beneficial for the fans enjoyment to take notice of the build up because it is a high probability that the fight itself won’t last long and will not result in any big surprises other than a David Haye knockout win in the early rounds. It is also not eccentric to state that even a big punch would possibly not even have to land to get it, either! Bellew is slower and throws while leaving himself wide open, flaws he has shown even during his widely perceived impressive wins over Ilunga Makabu and BJ Flores.
Seeing as the event is being screened on a Pay Per View basis, it is hoped that a good undercard will be developed to give fans some value in case promises are not kept by the main event.
In the meantime, enjoy the squabbling.
