Bellew: Family’s future is now secure
Tony Bellew has revealed his dramatic defeat of David Haye meant he had “achieved everything I’d got into boxing for”.
Haye was withdrawn in the 11th round at London’s 02 Arena when a suspected Achilles injury left him barely able to stand or defend himself from the improving, fitter Bellew.
He had looked slow and clumsy when compared to his peak even before the sixth, when the injury occured, but bravely persisted until the 11th when trainer Shane McGuigan belatedly threw in the towel after he had been knocked through the ropes.
The 36-year-old Haye had been taken straight to hospital after the fight concluded, but despite talking up a rematch may struggle to fight again.
It was while off balance in the sixth that the injury occurred, and he thereafter remained largely immobile and barely able to stay on his feet, suffering official knockdowns in the sixth and 11th rounds amid the numerous times he hit the canvas.
Evertonian Bellew, who was fighting for the first time at heavyweight, insisted victory could not “touch the sides” of the 2016 night he became WBC cruiserweight champion against Ilunga Makabu at Goodison Park.
The victory will likely be remembered as the finest of his career, but he said that for him, in securing his family’s financial future he had achieved his final ambition.
“I’ve achieved what I got in boxing for tonight,” said Bellew, 34, who also revealed he broke his hand in the early stages.
“I just made my three kids wealthy. If it was about me I could have quit after Goodison.”