By Michael Serra
Month after next, Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom outfit put on what many feel will be one of the most explosive of meetings to take place in a British ring in many a year!
Liverpool’s Tony Bellew whose the proud possessor of the WBC’s cruiserweight crown is moving up to heavy to take on former World cruiser and WBA heavy king David Haye in a battle of punchers.
Londoner Haye first boxed at heavy way back in 2006, though many will argue it was in 2008 when he stopped Monte Barret, his first win at heavy saw him stop West Ham’s Garry Delaney in emphatic fashion!
Bellew at the time was still boxing amateur and did indeed box himself as a heavy winning an ABA title, though as a pro, Bellew has never boxed at heavy, mainly campaigning in the light heavy and cruiser divisions, with mixed success.
Bellew’s first World title chance came at 175 against Welshman and fierce rival Nathan Cleverley, before succumbing to a points defeat, Bellew bounced back and had a crack at the WBC king Adonis Stevenson before getting stopped in a brave effort, with that the scouser moved up to cruiser where after a series of lukewarm performances got Bellew a crack at the vacant title, in which despite finding himself on the deck in the opener, came back to stop and win the WBC title, an impressive stoppage last time out of number 1 challenger BJ Flores in front of a certain ringside guest, no prizes for guessing!
Bellew after the destruction, made no secret of his dislike has he attempted to rush at Haye, whom calmly smiled at the rampaging champion! Screaming obscenities from the ring, Bellew kept calling the handsome Londoner Sponge Bob Square pants, a character from a children’s programme from over here in England.
There and then the fight had been has good as made, at the hastily arranged press conference, things got a little out of hand has the two giving the usual photo shoot with the typical staredown! Haye took a swing at Bellew, however it was more handbags than anything!
An interesting conversation took place has promoter Eddie Hearn and Haye began to trade insults, while Bellew just sat quietly….not for too much longer though!
This is a fight that many will deem as a fight that won’t see the final gong, both possess explosive power, though Bellew is if you like largely untested at heavy, some believe Bellew may have the proverbial punchers chance, while the general consensues and smart money lies with Haye!
Bellew is in a win win situation, if he loses, he will have cashed in on a massive payday, plus he will still be WBC cruiserweight champion, on the other hand Haye if he should lose has no where to go, if he wins then he possibly won’t get the credit and the school of thought will be that he only beat up a beefed up cruiser, yet again, he will get a payday and then the possibility of a World title chance may well loom! For ticket details please visit matchroom.com
