“I’ve never had that nemesis, and maybe I’ve found it.”
A few days before their heavyweight fight, David Haye threatened to leave Tony Bellew in hospital and was telling the whole world how he was going to do “serious damage” to the Liverpudlian.
A few days after the heavyweight bout at London’s O2 Arena, Haye claims he has a newfound respect for his opponent, who managed to upset the odds and beat him in the dramatic contest.
Bellew scored a victory over the former WBA world heavyweight champion after the fight was stopped in the 11th round when Haye’s trainer threw in the towel.
Bellew wasn't in the mood for a hug from Hearn https://t.co/LACxYgQdU1
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) March 5, 2017
Haye had ruptured his Achilles in the sixth round of the bout, but somehow managed to fight on.
The London boxer has had surgery on the injury, and appeared on Sky Sports News HQ on Tuesday to reflect on the bizarre events in the ring on Saturday.
Haye says he hopes Bellew is a “man of his word” and grants him a rematch, and he even has a proposition for him.
If Haye wins the potential rematch, he says he will grant Bellew another fight. He said he wants to make it a trilogy in the manner of Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran, Micky Ward and Arturo Gatti and Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
The 36-year-old said their rivalry could potentially match that of Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank.
"As a father, man and human being I am very disappointed to see Haye's comments about wanting to hospitalise Bellew" https://t.co/QA72WZu5gk
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) February 28, 2017
“It was a great fight. I’d love the opportunity to give the fans that again,” Haye said.
“He said he’d do it again. If he gives me a rematch, I’ll give him a rubber match. I’ve never had that nemesis, and maybe I’ve found it. Maybe Tony Bellew is my Benn-Eubank.”
As it stands, Haye’s prospects of earning a rematch appear somewhat remote. There was no clause for a rematch in the contract for the bout, and Bellew has said he wants to fight Deontay Wilder next. He also suggested he could even retire.
Meanwhile Haye has to overcome his injury. You can’t fully rule out the prospect of them fighting again, but there are several obstacles to the pair sharing the ring again.
They all want a piece of Bellew https://t.co/EV9z9luVR7
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) March 7, 2017
However, it sounds as though Haye has a new found respect for Bellew, and said he wouldn’t engage in the same trash talk again if they were to fight again.
“Out of the ring you can’t expect us to be 100% normal all the time,” Haye said on Sky Sports News HQ.
“What we say in the lead-up to a fight is one thing. Once you do share a ring with someone, once you go to war with someone. And you’re in that life or death situation, you do have a different type of respect for someone.
“Prior to the fight, I didn’t know him that well. But after sharing a ring with him, I know he is a true warrior, like I am. This is why I’m in the sport, to compete with other warriors like that.”
“I respect him (now). His heart is as big as a lion’s. It was nice to stand in front of him and have no animosity.”
Something tells us the two might end up falling out again just before the rematch.
https://youtu.be/4tiHc8a7LRc?t=9s
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