Daily Mirror

‘FAKER’ HAYE HIT BELLEW THE BELT

Scouse battler blasts rival over poor heavyweigh­t record

- BY DAVID ANDERSON Boxing Correspond­ent

TONY BELLEW has laid into David Haye even before the first bell has rung for their fight, rubbishing his record at heavyweigh­t.

WBC cruiserwei­ght champ Bellew, stepping up to heavyweigh­t to face Haye at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday, claims Haye beat no one of note before his lame defeat by Wladimir Klitschko in 2011 when he blamed a broken toe.

“He just likes to make out he’s something he’s not,” said the Scouser.

“He hasn’t got a single win over a top10 heavyweigh­t. He faced one in Wladimir Klitschko (right, top) and got played with for 12 rounds. He basically s**t himself and blamed his little toe. It was one of the most embarrassi­ng things I’ve ever seen.

“He beat John Ruiz (right, middle) who was way past his sell-by date. He was older than my grandad.

“I’m not even going to attempt to say that Nikolai Valuev (right, bottom) was any good. He was a freak show. What top fighter has he really beaten?”

Bellew, 34, is relaxed about moving up to face Haye because he claims the former two-weight world champ is not a real heavyweigh­t. He says he will be just as big as him on Saturday, although without the perfectly-toned six pack.

“Listen, I’m not facing Anthony Joshua or Wladimir Klitschko,” he said. “If I was, my a**e would be twitching. I’m facing a big cruiserwei­ght or a small heavyweigh­t – nothing that I haven’t faced before. He’s just got more muscle than me. I will turn up as the fat guy, but as the fat guy who can fight.” Bellew and Haye will be separated by a screen at this evening’s headto-head in Liverpool to ensure there is no repeat of the violence when they last met. Bellew accused Haye of punching him on that occasion and has warned the Londoner he will “smack him” if he tries anything today. †HAYE v BELLEW is live and exclusive on Sky Sports Box Office.

 ??  ?? I’m the fat guy – the fat guy who can fight, says Bellew
I’m the fat guy – the fat guy who can fight, says Bellew
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