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.
Tony Bellew scored a comprehensive victory in this rematch, knocking down David Haye three times before the fight was stopped in the fifth round
'I used his annoying personality as fuel'
David Haye has revealed the drastic change in his preparations for Saturday's rematch with Tony Bellew is because his opponent won the mind games before their first fight last March.
Former WBA heavyweight champion Haye appeared angry throughout the build-up to that defeat, punching Bellew and shouting at him, his promoter Eddie Hearn and Bellew's supporters before the pair met in the ring.
On fight night he also neglected the subtlety that had once brought him such success, recklessly trying to land his heaviest punches and Haye acknowledges he had "lost his way".
At his peak the 37-year-old Haye was masterful in the art of unnerving his opponents. Ahead of their rematch has been considerably more composed.
"For the past fight it was difficult to motivate myself because I didn't see him as a threat, so I used his annoying personality as fuel to wind me up, and embraced the fact he was annoying," he said.
"I watched as many interviews as possible of him saying things about me, to try to trigger emotion in me, and I used that anger to get through it. I brought that into the press conferences - I punched him - the weigh-in, and the whole thing was a mess. I got into the ring and my performance was angry.
"Sometimes you lose your way a little bit. (I've learnt) to be calm, and not allow things to eat away at me. I'd listen to an interview and he'd say certain things and it would irritate me; now it's 'Why was I even thinking about that? Who cares?' It's got no bearing on the boxing.
"I purposely tried to soak that up, and it backfired, so this time I've shielded myself, haven't watched any interviews with him; anything him, his team and his people have to say, it's 'whatever'.
"I'd normally do that to other people, and wind up my opponents, so he did to me what I did to other people. It's a lesson. You've got to take a step back and evaluate, and I didn't."
POSTFIGHT: This was the beginning of the end for Bellew.
This was the beginning of the end for David Haye vs. Tony Bellew in the third round. pic.twitter.com/NbGvMKVwGH — Josh Katzowitz (@joshkatzowitz) May 5, 2018
And this was the third and final knockdown.
This was Tony Bellew putting David Haye down for the third and final time in the 5th. pic.twitter.com/VVYEWE74vD — Josh Katzowitz (@joshkatzowitz) May 5, 2018
After the fight, Bellew exchanged a greeting with Anthony Joshua, and later, Bellew and Haye embrace in the center of the ring.
Bellew is saying plenty of nice things about Haye, calling him a legend. He also knows that he's won his feud with Haye.
"It's over," Bellew said. "I've always admired David. But styles make fights, and my fat a** keeps harping on with the same stuff."
Bellew said he wants a world title. He said he wants a mega-star to fight. And then he calls out former light heavyweight champion Andre Ward, even though Ward is retired. Well, I guess, why not?
Meanwhile, Haye said Bellew was clever in the ring. And it turns out, Haye wasn't quite as healthy as he thought he was. Haye also declined to say whether he would retire. But we know one thing is for sure: His potential big-money fight with fellow Englishman Anthony Joshua is gone for now and probably forever.
Fifth round: Paulie Malignaggi is making interesting points on Sky about how Haye's leg might not have ever recovered from the last fight. Talking about how he's put so much weight on his front foot throughout the fight, which is not normal for him. Bellew is getting the jab working. Haye looks better this round, a little more steady. But Bellew is still landing. Big left hook PUTS HAYE DOWN AGAIN. He gets up, and they're going. This can't last much longer. And the REF STOPS IT. THE FIGHT IS OVER.
Fourth round: How is Haye's ankle? Looks like he might have hurt it again on the second knockdown. He's not having quite as much fun as before. Bellew is stalking him and landing big shots. He is punishing Haye. A minute into the round, and you wonder how Haye will survive the fourth. Bellew takes a little break, but man, Haye looks tired and looks ready to go whenever. His hand speed is gone, and he's getting beat to the punch on every exchange. You could score it 10-8 for Bellew. But I think Haye did just enough to avoid that. Forbes scores it for Bellew.
Overall: Bellew 38-36
Third round: Another left to the body and right to the head combo from Bellew. But Haye is the one stalking Bellew. Plus, he looks like he's having more fun in the ring than Bellew. Lots of smiling from Haye. Not much action in the round, but I liked Bellew's jacb and ... HE PUTS DOWN HAYE. Haye gets up, and the two are brawling. And HAYE GOES DOWN AGAIN as the bell rings. He gets up but is very wobbly. Forbes scores it for Bellew.
Overall: Bellew 28-27
Second round: Left to the body and a sharp right to Haye's face from Bellew. Haye lands a right a minute in, and then gestures to Bellew as if to say, "How'd that feel?" Bellew wasn't discouraged. Haye lands a right, and Bellew shrugs. Two-punch combo for Haye, and Bellew holds his hands out wide. Thing is, Haye keeps landing. Forbes scores it for Haye.
Overall: Haye 20-18
First round: Haye seems to be the big-time crowd favorite. Three-punch combo from Haye early, but it didn't do much damage. Both are pumping out their jab, and both are landing it. Halfway through, Haye lands a right in the middle of the ring. It appears that Bellew already is marked up under his left eye. As the round ends, Bellew lands a nice left hook. Both look good. Haye looks a little better. Forbes scores it for Haye.
Overall: Haye 10-9
Tony Bellew ringwalk: Haye slips on some wireless headphones, so he doesn't have to hear Bellew's approach. Bellew has a faster pace than Haye to get from the locker room to the arena. Bellew's eyes are wide as he walks to the ring, but he also seems pretty chill. He raises his arms and pounds his chest before stepping into the ring.
David Haye ringwalk: Haye emerges from his locker room with plenty of smiles. He's slowly sauntering through the bowels of the O2, seemingly in no hurry to get anywhere at the moment. He enters the arena accompanied by the sounds of McFadden and Whitehead's "Ain't No Stopping Us Now." Haye is dancing to the ring, and he's mouthing the lyrics. He looks, um, pretty relaxed. He also seems to be soaking in everything. Remember, he said that if he loses or doesn't look good in winning, he might retire.
Purses: Both fighters are expected to earn a £2.5 million ($3.4 million) guaranteed purse for Saturday's bout, according to the Telegraph.
Haye and Bellew each had the same £2.5 million guarantee when they fought each other the first time, but based on their individual PPV deals, Haye earned a total of £4.2 million ($5.7 million) during that evening. Bellew, meanwhile, took home £2.8 million ($3.8 million). On Saturday, both are expected to make more money off the British PPV revenue to supplement their multi-million pound dollar minimums.
Odds: Despite winning the first fight, Bellew, once again, is the underdog.
Haye is the betting favorite at -225, meaning you’d have to bet $225 to win $100. Meanwhile, Bellew is +175, which means you’d earn $175 by wagering $100. Earlier in the week, Haye was -210 and Bellew was +170, meaning the money is slightly coming in on Haye to win the bout.
In the first fight, Haye was a -600 favorite before he was upset.
The first time David Haye fought Tony Bellew, Haye was expected to get the victory. Instead, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the sixth round and eventually was stopped in the 11th to give the upset victory to Bellew. But on Saturday at the O2 Arena in London, Haye (28-3, 26 KOs), a former heavyweight titlist, will look for his redemption against Bellew (29-2-1, 19 KOs).
This time, Haye expects to get the win that eluded him 14 months ago.
“I hope his [Bellew's] training camp has gone as well as mine has as I want to be a clear and concise victor on the night as he was the clear victor on March 4,” Haye said, via the Sun. “But that fight left as many questions as answers, this time round I want a clear and conclusive and decisive victory and a fight that everyone will remember for years to come. I hope he is in tip-top condition as am I so we can both go to war and give the fight the fans crave.”
Both seem to be in great shape, as they both weighed in a few pounds less than they did in March 2017. And if Haye loses yet again, he knows what he wants to do.
"You know, I'm 37 years of age now, pushing 38,” Haye said. “If I don't win this fight in spectacular form, it will be my last fight, for sure. If I lose the fight, 100% that's me done.”
As for Bellew, a longtime light heavyweight and cruiserweight who’s only fought at heavyweight twice before, he’s feeling emotional about this fight.
