By Scott Gilfoid: Promoter Eddie Hearn says a rematch between heavyweights Tony Bellew and David Haye is a possibility in 2017. Bellew has other options besides a rematch with Haye. There’s Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury and Joseph Parker. It’s quite possible that Haye would be the last resort for Bellew if he can’t get a big money fight against Parker, Fury or Wilder.
Bellew recently beat Haye by an 11th round knockout at the O2 Arena in London, England. Unfortunately for Bellew, the win was partially tainted because of Haye injuring his right ankle in round 6. Haye was hobbling around the ring for the last 5 rounds of the contest. The injury enabled Bellew (29-2-1, 19 KOs) to take control over a fight that he was losing, and go on to score an 11th round TKO.
Haye’s trainer Shane McGuigan threw in the towel in the 11th after he was knocked partially through the ropes. The injury that Haye suffered was a disappointment for a lot of boxing fans, because they didn’t get a chance to see what Bellew could do against a healthy fighter. It was a win that was helped along by Haye’s injury. The towel being thrown into the ring was arguably premature, because Haye looked fine after he got to his feet. He was knocked down mostly because he got his feet tangled and the shots that hit him pushed him over more than hurting him.
“We’re going to fight this year, 100 percent,” said Hearn to Sky Sports New HQ. “The Haye rematch certainly remains one of the biggest fights out there for both guys. Part of Tony Bellew wanted to beat him fully fit. There are some unanswered questions,” said Hearn.
I’m not sure I understand the bit about Hearn saying, “Part of Tony Bellew wanted to beat him fully fit.” Why in the heck wouldn’t all of Bellew want to fight a healthy version of Haye? I don’t understand that. I mean, is Hearn saying that Bellew is happy with beating a guy that suffered a leg injury without even being hit? Haye was on the outside moving around when his right Achilles gave out on him. Haye wasn’t being hit, and he wasn’t being chased down. He was bouncing around on the outside. Since the injury occurred without Haye being hit, it’s not as if Bellew can take credit for beating him.
The fight should have been stopped as soon as the injury occurred in round 6 in my opinion. Watching Haye limp around for 5 rounds wasn’t even sporting. If this was football or baseball, the head coach/manager would likely pull the injured player out of the game. Haye stuck it out and he did not fight well.
“For Haye the only fight out there is the Tony Bellew rematch,” said Hearn. “For Tony there’s the Haye rematch, there’s Joseph Parker, there’s Deontay Wilder, there’s Tyson Fury, there’s plenty of options.”
So there it is. Haye only has one option in a rematch with Bellew says Hearn. On the other hand, Bellew 4 different options available to him. In other words, don’t hold your breath Haye waiting for a rematch with Bellew in 2017, because it’s not likely to happen. I do think Bellew will give Haye a rematch eventually, but only after he’s gotten a big money fight against the likes of Fury, Parker or Wilder. By that point, Haye would be doing Bellew a favor by fighting him with him coming off of a likely knockout loss to one of three huge heavyweights. Do I think Bellew can beat Fury, Parker or Wilder? No way. Unless they suffer a debilitating injury like the one Haye suffered, Bellew gets toyed with by all three of those fighters and stopped in my view.