THE BELL TOLLS FOR HAYEMAKER
Fight chiefs tell fierce rivals: Behave or face punishment
DAVID HAYE and Tony Bellew have been warned they will be clobbered if they step out of line again in the build-up to their rematch.
The pair yesterday confirmed they will clash on December 17 at London’s O2, and the British Boxing Board of Control has told the pair they will not tolerate a repeat of the antics before their first fight.
They took trash talking to a new low before the bout in March, which Bellew won by an 11th-round stoppage, and the Board had to intervene to tell them to tone down their incendiary language.
Haye threatened to hospitalise Bellew and was subsequently fined £25,000.
The Board are anxious Haye and Bellew do not drag boxing’s name through the mud again and the fighters risk punishment if they do.
Bellew, 34, insists he is not interested in attacking Haye because the sudden death of his brother-in-law, Ashley Roberts, last month has given him a reality check.
“My world has been put into perspective in the last four weeks,” said the former WBC cruiserweight champ.
“It’s been the toughest four weeks of my family’s lives and I will dedicate my victory on December 17 to my late brother-in-law.” The Scouser is confident he will win again and said: “I will have the exact same attitude I had going into the first fight – win at all costs.
“I will be victorious and I will end David Haye’s career. Another loss to me closes the curtain on the Hayemaker.
“He’s another year older, the body is more worn, and he won’t be able to live with a younger, fresher fighter.”
Haye, 36, fought half the first contest with a ruptured Achilles and insists Bellew got lucky because of his injury.
The former WBA heavyweight king said: “He somehow won the lottery in our first fight but, believe me, he won’t win the lottery twice.
“I’ve been training every day for over six months. I feel fitter, stronger and more athletic than I did for our first bout.
“I will relish the opportunity to rewrite the ending of the Haye-Bellew story.”