Saturday 4 March 2017

Haye vs Bellew Preview



So here we are.

The biggest Boxing fight of 2017 so far, in terms of media coverage it seems, and it's between two fighters who many wouldn't have predicted to clash had it not been for Tony Bellew's callout of David Haye after his first defence of his WBC Cruiserweight title against BJ Flores back in October of last year.



It's definitely a contest that has been set up due to the interest in whether or not the verbal sparring between the Evertonian and the former Heavyweight champion has a real edge to it. Here are some of their comments on one and other:

 "I don't like the person he is. The stories aren't good, I've seen him reject children who wanted pictures" - Tony Bellew.

"I've had a fight where I've wanted to cave someone's skull in like this, I really want to hurt this guy" - David Haye.

"This is a man who chooses to spend his Christmas and down time partying with strangers in Miami rather than be at home with his children" - Tony Bellew.

"This isn't about his career, his life is on the line" - David Haye.

Big talk indeed.

 They say that talk sells fights and if that's anything to go by, this should make all involved a healthy amount of dosh.

This is more to this fight than just the trash talk though.

Haye is looking to re-establish himself in the Heavyweight division after he beat Dereck Chisora for the WBO International Heavyweight title back in July 2012 and subsequently took a 42 month break from Boxing.

He has said that a fight with IBF Heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua will be on the cards, that is if he can beat Bellew.

This is also Bellew's first venture into the Heavyweight division and weighting in at 213 pounds (15 stone and 3 pounds), 'Bomber' was a stone lighter than his oppoent at yesterday's weight ins.

Commenting on Bellew's first-ever Heavyweight weigh-in, Haye said "Just look at him, he doesn't look like an athlete. Nine out of 10 people in the street have a better physique than he does. He's made heavyweight by eating a load of pies, I've made weight with methodical eating and training."

 Bellew returned fire and stated "I thought he'd be lighter, I'm over the moon about his weight. He's going to gas!."

 He added "When the fight goes out of him, fat boy's going to quit. That's my dream scenario. I don't want to flatten him I want him to quit and show his true colours." 

 The heat between these two has been turned up so much they took over Sky's The Gloves Are Off, making Johnny Nelson a bystander.

Whoever you want to win, you can't deny that's it been an unexpected but brilliantly aggressive build-up to what could be one of the fights of the year.  






Tale of the Tape

Name: David Deron Haye

Age: 36 (Born 13th October 1980)

Height: 6 foot 3 inches

 Reach: 78 inches

 Professional Boxing Record: 28 Wins (26 KO), 2 Losses


Name: Anthony Bellew

Age: 34 (Born 30th November 1982)

Height: 6 foot 3 inches

Reach: 74 inches

Professional Boxing Record: 28 Wins (18 KO), 2 Losses and 1 Draw




 Prediction

 When predicting this fight, I've been going back and forth for what feels like a lifetime.

Trying to see how much a factor Bellew's step up the divisions will be, how aggressive both fighters will be and whether this will kill the fight in the early rounds and if David Haye may, how unlikely it may seem, actually 'gas out' as Bellew says.

 I think that many will expect this fight to end within four rounds but I think that it will go into the later rounds.

 As much as I want Bellew to win, I predict David Haye to win by eighth round Knockout.

Whether he'll get Joshua after is a complex scenario that Haye, Eddie Hearn, Joshua and the various Boxing organisations e.g. IBF, WBC etc.

What this means for Bellew is a huge mainstream setback but the saving grace in this predicted scenario is that the Liverpool native is the WBC Cruiserweight champion.




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