Bellew wins in round five after knocking Haye down three times
Emotional Bellew dedicates win to late brother-in-law
Haye makes no decision on immediate future despite sorry defeat
David Haye's career as a two-weight world champion may have ended here last night in the feverish atmosphere of the O2 Arena
after a shorter, even more dramatic as their first meeting, with Haye stopped in the fifth round, after dropped twice in the third. It billed as repeat or revenge. For Haye, it was about "revenge", a fight he had to emerge triumphant from. For Bellew, it was about proving it was no fluke.
And two minutes fourteen seconds into the fifth stanza, Bellew ended Haye's sixteen-year career, a decorated one that as a former world cruiserweight and heavyweight champion. Haye's timing has gone, even though he still has desire, but retirement must on the cards.
"Doubt me now," said Bellew. But it was referee Howard Foster who made the right call with a merciful stoppage in that dramatic fifth round, with Haye having been felled on his face, his neck and head torqued by a left hook in an exchange as the Londoner, hurt but still dangerous, threw caution to the wind with his own right hand and left hook.
John Dennen is ringside at the O2 with the latest updates on the Tony Bellew vs David Haye rematch
John Dennen is ringside at the O2 with the latest updates on the Tony Bellew vs David Haye rematch
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THE finish was sensational. The Tony Bellew vs David Haye rematch, as a fight, became more interesting second time around. It was Bellew who answered the questions raised by their first encounter.
After an even beginning, Bellew broke through in the third round. He dropped Haye with a heavy right cross in the third round and put down again before the session was out.
Haye was in desperate trouble as Bellew bossed him across the canvas. Bellew undid him in the fifth round. A well-timed left hook robbed the legs from beneath Haye, leaving falling sprawled out on the canvas.
Haye rose bravely but Bellew pummelled him into the ropes and the referee Howard Foster leapt in to end it at 2-14 of the fifth round.
Scroll down for the live blog of an eventful evening as it happened to hear what the fighters had to say.
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Tony Bellew scored a comprehensive victory in this rematch, knocking down David Haye three times before the fight was stopped in the fifth round
Some 14 months after he stunned Londoner David Haye at the O2 Arena, Liverpool's Tony Bellew returned to the capital for another crack at the former two-weight world champion.
The pair clashed at the final pre-fight Press Conference as Bellew insisted the niceties have stopped.
He declared: “I showed respect, purely for what he did for me. I gave that back by doing this fight.
"I didn't need to give David a rematch. He was so smarmy, arrogant and cocky that he didn't put a rematch clause in the contract. No one does that, at this level. Anything past domestic level, you put a rematch clause in.
“On Saturday night, you will see me knock out one of the greatest fighters this country has ever produced.
“There will be no rematch, this time. We close the curtain on you, David, and your career ends in a beating.”
The ECHO will be providing you with live updates and analysis throughout the night of explosive action both in the build-up and the fight itself here on our live blog sponsored by Taskers sports, specialist training, fitness and boxing retailer.
