Haye & Bellew go at it again...
Ex-champ may quit if he can’t beat Liverpool rival in style in their grudge rematch...
DAVID HAYE claims he could quit even if he beats Tony Bellew in tonight’s heavyweight grudge rematch.
Haye admits he doesn’t know what he will have left when he steps through the ropes at London’s O2 to face Bellew.
The two-weight world champ has been crocked more often than Daniel Sturridge over the last six years and has only managed to beat a couple of nobodies in that time.
Haye’s goal is to win another world heavyweight title and the 37-year-old admits he will retire if tonight shows he cannot get back to that level.
“It solely depends on how I win this fight,” said Haye, who held the WBA heavyweight crown between 2009 and 2011.
“In the gym it feels like I’m as good as I’ve ever been, but that’s in the gym. I’ve known many gym fighters over the years, who look great in sparring, but put the lights on and it all falls apart.
“I can’t judge it on what I do in the gym. They’re just numbers on a pad and paper. The only thing that matters is what happens when the lights and cameras are on.
“I will only know after the fight when I review it – ‘Is that guy good enough to beat the best in the division?’. If he clearly looks like he is, then I will continue in the division. If it isn’t, then I can say at least I didn’t lose my last fight.”
In essence that is what tonight is all about. It’s not about revenge, it’s about Haye’s future and if he will have one in the ring come tomorrow morning. Haye’s 11round stoppage to Bellew in March 2017 can be explained by his ruptured Achilles – he was winning until he was injured in the sixth.
He insists he has had his best camp under his old conditioner Ruben Tabares since destroying Enzo Maccarinelli a decade ago, and says trainer Ismael Salas has “rewired his legs”.
Unlike 14 months ago, he is injury free and knows there can be no more excuses tonight.
Bellew’s promoter Eddie Hearn feels tonight will see the last act in Haye’s glittering 16-year pro career, which has seen him win the WBA, WBC and WBO cruiserweight titles in addition to his heavyweight crown.
“The pressure is all on David Haye,” said the Matchroom MD. “This is it for him. This could be the end of David Haye’s career or a mini-renaissance.
“Personally, I don’t see the latter happening. I think Tony Bellew will knock him out in 10 rounds.”
If Haye can find any of the fighter who destroyed Dereck Chisora in his last creditable win back in 2012, then he can be victorious.
If he cannot, then his career will be over and Bellew will be celebrating again.