BoxRec

Seeing as everyone has already written off Bellews chances here's a contrary view

He's up against a 36 year old man who has fought for about 400 seconds since the summer of 2012.

Haye hasn't been in any kind of fight since a major operation so we don't know how his body (shoulders?) will hold up after a few rounds of action.

Since Haye beat Chisora Bellew has fought THIRTEEN times, losing only to Adonis Stephenson and beating some decent fighters along the way including stopping the very highly rated Makabu - who had beaten his previous 19 opponents, stopping 18 of them - as well as Flores who had never been stopped.

Bellew is punching harder than ever. And boxing smarter than ever. He's been improving while Haye's been...well doing what Haye does.

And here's the clincher. The last time Haye fought a Light Heavyweight turned Cruiserweight from the North West of England was against Carl Thompson

I don't seriously expect Bellew to win but I don't think it's the complete mismatch most on here appear to. I can see a decent battle for a few rounds til Haye's heavier weight counts - similar to Brook GGG. Actually that's not a good example is it

good post and i agree with what you say,basically no matter how you look at it Haye hasn't been in a fight for close to 5 years come fight time and it would not surprise me if Bellew caught him with one.

ill also add that bellew is more confident than ever right now. still think he loses though, just adding to the case.

Agreed I'm going for Bellew I'm usually right.

Is Bellew really boxing smarter than ever?

I think he has an outside puncher's chance, but Haye is still the bigger puncher, faster, defensively tighter, and IMO a superior fighter. To me it's a better bigger man vs a lesser smaller man.

crusader wrote:Is Bellew really boxing smarter than ever?

I think he has an outside puncher's chance, but Haye is still the bigger puncher, faster, defensively tighter, and IMO a superior fighter. To me it's a better bigger man vs a lesser smaller man.

True but my point is are we assuming the Haye of today is as good as the Haye that beat Chisora? He's closer to 40 now with five years of relative inactivity.

Don't forget Bellew hasn't had any major tests at cruiser and fell short every time he stepped up at Lt heavy, to be honest I can't get the image of him getting dropped by ovill out of my head

Your buying the Bellew and fast eddie hype already

It is a mismatch, the only decent fighter Bellew faced in Stevenson he was humiliated. Makubu whos biggest victory was over a 48 year old Glenn Johnson and Bj Flores who hasnt beaten anyone of note are in no way comparable to Haye.

littlepug wrote:Don't forget Bellew hasn't had any major tests at cruiser and fell short every time he stepped up at Lt heavy, to be honest I can't get the image of him getting dropped by ovill out of my head

I'd say Makabu was a major test.

Bellew isn't a bona fide heavy. I don't have any doubts about the outcome of this one

gazza8 wrote:Your buying the Bellew and fast eddie hype already

I'm capable of making my own decisions Gaz. Been watching the sport for over 40 years now.

Anything can happen but I have no idea how much Haye has left.

I know Bellew's current level. Has Haye dropped down to it or is he still as good as he was?

You've made the best case possible. But you're grasping at straws. Haye will be in fabulous shape and extremely fit. He will be 225 lbs of muscle or more... Bellend will be a similar weight but with little definition. If he folded from Stevenson wait til he samples a serous puncher at heavyweight.

It will be a great build up, we'll all get into it and the press conferences will be full of great quotes. But in reality Bellend is a 10-1 underdog and will get smashed. For a great payday that his big mouth rather than talent got. But well done it's retirement money and he can still defend his cruiser title.

And everyone gets paid and comes out smiling. Except for the serious boxing fan. The casual boxing fan will be buzzing though...

boxingknockout wrote:You've made the best case possible. But you're grasping at straws. Haye will be in fabulous shape and extremely fit. He will be 225 lbs of muscle or more... Bellend will be a similar weight but with little definition. If he folded from Stevenson wait til he samples a serous puncher at heavyweight.

It will be a great build up, we'll all get into it and the press conferences will be full of great quotes. But in reality Bellend is a 10-1 underdog and will get smashed. For a great payday that his big mouth rather than talent got. But well done it's retirement money and he can still defend his cruiser title.

And everyone gets paid and comes out smiling. Except for the serious boxing fan. The casual boxing fan will be buzzing though...

Ooh, hark at me. I'm a "serious boxing fan"

Almost impossible to make a case for Bellew. For him to win, Haye needs to have slipped beyond all recognition, but even a very faded Haye is still going to have good ring generalship, and power. He would need to gas big time to stand any chance of losing this fight.

In all likelihood Bellew gets sparked in spectacular fashion!

ALI wrote:In all likelihood Bellew gets sparked in spectacular fashion!

I agree.

Bellew is built like a light heavy

seriously cant see the Haye who destroyed Chisora having much trouble with Bellew.

its a very silly matchup made possible by Bellew's mouth.

Taansend wrote:

littlepug wrote:Don't forget Bellew hasn't had any major tests at cruiser and fell short every time he stepped up at Lt heavy, to be honest I can't get the image of him getting dropped by ovill out of my head

I'd say Makabu was a major test.

I know he went on to win, but he was put on his are early doors in that fight. Imagine if he is caught clean whilst very cold by a much bigger puncher, he will be sleeping the night away.

I think haye will have detoriated from the time off, but for me, any version of hate with speed and power will beat bellew.

If they met in Hayes prime at cruiser, bellew wouldn't be entertaining this fight. It is because he knows he needs a payday before losing his belt to uysk or lebedev or his mando

My first thought was haye ko1 total mismatch, He's level above as a boxer and as a puncher but...he is 36, has been pretty much inactive for years and is fighting a younger hungry guy. It may be closer than we think and haye may even get dropped. I still think he wins though lol.

Already stated ages ago that I wouldn't be surprised if a good cruiserweight would beat Daffy. There's a reason Daffy is so terrified of guys aged close near 50.

Taansend wrote:

crusader wrote:Is Bellew really boxing smarter than ever?

I think he has an outside puncher's chance, but Haye is still the bigger puncher, faster, defensively tighter, and IMO a superior fighter. To me it's a better bigger man vs a lesser smaller man.

True but my point is are we assuming the Haye of today is as good as the Haye that beat Chisora? He's closer to 40 now with five years of relative inactivity.

He still looks faster than Bellew to me, and I doubt he's any less of a puncher now. Even if his skills and reflexes have regressed, I think he'll be able to get his shots in first, and I imagine that they'll do more damage than Bellew's will.

Bellew is there to be caught with his chin out, straight up style.

Come off it, this is as big a mismatch as any of the garbage Hearns ever out on. Bellew should be about 200/1.

Ricky_ wrote:Come off it, this is as big a mismatch as any of the garbage Hearns ever out on. Bellew should be about 200/1.

That would be true 5 years ago, today more like 1/20 now.
I can't believe I'm defending a 1/20 PPV, but I'll watch it..

ALI wrote:Almost impossible to make a case for Bellew. For him to win, Haye needs to have slipped beyond all recognition, but even a very faded Haye is still going to have good ring generalship, and power. He would need to gas big time to stand any chance of losing this fight.

In all likelihood Bellew gets sparked in spectacular fashion!

I can't see it any other way than this.

Haye within 5 rounds.

I suspect Haye will have a deliberately quiet opening couple, then drop the bombs after that.

Yet another silly fight involving a world class British fighter.