Haye says he’s far from finished; suggests Bellew trilogy could be up there with the likes of Gatti-Ward, Ali-Frazier

[Ruthless-RKO]

Although he suffered a major injury in his losing fight with Tony Bellew, David Haye is not talking like a man who is resigned to retirement. Haye, who had to take many months off after undergoing a 2012 career-threatening shoulder op, has now undergone surgery on his torn Achilles tear. But although Haye, 36, seems to be a fighter who has a career in tatters, he insists he will still “carry on my path to become No 1 in the world.”


But Haye is hoping Bellew will not retire, and will instead grant him a rematch. If Haye wins the return, he says he would then grant Bellew a rematch and perhaps engage in a great and memorable trilogy. In speaking with Sky Sports News HQ, Haye spoke of the great boxing trilogies and suggested a three-fight series between him and Bellew could go down as special.

“Not often do you find your nemesis, the guy that in 50 years time people will look back and say, ‘remember the Bellew-Haye days, what crazy fights they were?’ The way people look at Micky Ward-Arturo Gatti, at Roberto Duran- Sugar Ray Leonard, at Joe Frazier-Muhammad Ali. They had such amazing fights, and maybe Tony Bellew would like some of that. After sharing a ring with him, he’s a true warrior like me. He said if he was to win, he’d give me a rematch. Hopefully he’s a man of his word. If the rematch happens and I beat him, I’ll give him a third fight.”


Haye said that if Bellew opts to retire, which he “truly hopes he doesn’t,” he will still, “find a way to challenge for the heavyweight title.”

So which is more realistic – Haye getting a second, maybe even a third fight with Bellew, or of the former WBA heavyweight champ somehow getting another shot at world glory? Nobody, including Haye, knows how long his rehabilitation time will be after his latest operation, but Haye is saying he hopes to be back in action in “six to nine months.”

By that time, Bellew may have either retired or landed himself a world title shot of his own. But Haye is right to suggest how a rematch, even a trilogy, between he and Bellew would have huge fan appeal. The ball is now in Bellew’s court.

[Jip]

deserve yes. but he should stop boxing. he is still in great shape, but shoulder, toe, ankles, achilles. i mean its just to much and it is disrespectful if paying public pays huge amounts of money to see a fight and than the boxer comes in already injured or with great potential to be injuryd, not by the opponent but by his own body.

[Enlightened-One]

From a business perspective, I’m guessing that it’s better for Matchroom if Bellew challenges for the WBC or WBO world titles, but if Tony prefers to chase the biggest payday possible, then the David Haye rematch is the obvious choice.

Tony is at the stage of his career where he only competes twice a year anyway, so either option is feasible.

If I was Tony, I’d focus on the David Haye rematch, because he’d be on the A-side of contract negotiations, he’d receive the lion’s share of the total purse and another fight against the Hayemaker would inevitably generate more money.

Bellew isn’t a heavyweight, so going down the world title route would likely result in a far smaller payday, coupled with a better chance of defeat.

[Tanzio]

At this point, Haye is a pitiful character.

[Syntax Error]

I suppose he deserves a rematch if that's what he wants, but I think he is deluded if he thinks he can return & be a force again.

He looked past it before his Achilles went & he's going to be out for yet another extended period, then he will return well into his 38th year, so is unlikely to improve.

As for trilogies; all I would say to David is, "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?"

Don't even go there with the Ali/Frazier, Gatti/Ward nonsense!

[BitPlayer]

I'm starting to think Haye might be seriously delusional.