Bell rings for second round
BOXING is full of memorable rematches.
Muhammad Ali v Joe Frazier and Erik Morales v Marco Antonio Barrera live long in the memory. Plus who can forget ‘The Bite Fight’ between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield in their second clash?
There has been plenty of bad blood between Tony Bellew and David Haye ahead of their rematch at the O2 Arena tonight.
Bellew won the first fight with an 11th round stoppage, helped by
Haye’s damaged Achilles.
Fourteen months on, ‘The Hayemaker’ has said only a convincing win will keep him from retirement at the age of 37.
But should he prevail in style, we may just have another heavyweight throwing their hat into the ring for the big bucks against Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury.
But Bellew is very confident and has vowed to “close the curtain” on Haye.
The war of words between the pair prior to their first fight was almost pantomime fare and they did share an embrace at the end.
Bellew has stated he regretted that and has stoked up the war again this week, ending in a heated photo shoot on Thursday.
Haye is 4-9 to gain his revenge, with Bellew 2-1 to confirm his win was no fluke.
It is 9-4 the fight goes the distance and just 1-3 there is a stoppage, but the 11-2 on Bellew to win on points looks a little overpriced.
The big guns have made their way into the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championships.
John Higgins (above), 42, and Mark Williams, 43, have six titles between them and are bidding to be the oldest winner since 45-year-old Ray Reardon in 1977.
They are joined by Barry Hawkins, who has won more games at the Crucible in the last six years than any other player and is in his fifth semi-final in that period. Kyren Wilson is the final member of the quartet.
The winner will be crowned on Monday evening in a best of 35 frames marathon.