Daily Star

RIVALS COULD BOTH THROW IN THE TOWEL

- By CHRIS McKENNA

TONY BELLEW could retire after blowing David Haye away in five rounds.

But two-weight world champ Haye definitely should pack it in after Saturday’s defeat.

Scouse scrapper Bellew rightly earned the plaudits as he delivered on his pre-fight promise to stop Haye inside eight rounds and pick up back-to-back wins over his bitter rival.

This time there was no injury to blame, but Haye was already going back on his own word that he would quit not only if he was beaten, but even if he won and didn’t impress.

The Londoner said he needs to review the fight before making a decision but it will not make pretty viewing.

When he goes over the tape, he will see a brilliant Bellew totally take him apart, while he looked a shadow of the man who once reigned as king of the cruiserwei­ghts and WBA heavyweigh­t champion.

Haye refused to attend the post-fight press conference on Saturday night to speak further about why he could continue, but those close to him were refusing to rule out a return to the ring.

Limelight

His brilliance in his pomp should not be forgotten but, like Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, he just hung around too long.

Now he cannot give it up, with his love of the limelight greater, more attractive, than putting his feet up and enjoying his hardearned millions.

But take nothing away from Bellew who, at 35, was at his best as he outsmarted the former heavyweigh­t champion.

Promoter Eddie Hearn will try to tempt American pound-for-pound star Andre Ward out of retirement and to step up to cruiserwei­ght for a fight in the UK later this year as one option for Bellew.

There is a more ambitious plot to land a big-money fight with former heavyweigh­t champion Tyson Fury, who is on the comeback trail with rival promoter Frank Warren and BT Sport.

Bellew said: “I’d love Tyson Fury. I’d love to knock Tyson Fury out. I know people think I’m crazy, but I know I can do it.”

The winner of the World Boxing Super Series cruiserwei­ght final between Oleksandr Usyk and Murat Gassiev would be a tantalisin­g prospect with all the belts on the line, but the fight would not offer a huge financial incentive.

But Hearn would be happy to see Bellew walk away into the sunset on the back of a world title win at Goodison Park, a routine defence and two high-profile wins over Haye.

“It’s all about looking at the landscape and if the landscape is not right, if Ward don’t want it and Fury messes around, if Usyk or Gassiev money is s*** then he might just leave it,” said Hearn.

“I’d be happy if he turned around and said, ‘I’m retiring’ but the only problem is that he’s getting better.”

Bellew got through two dangerous rounds at the start of Saturday night’s heavyweigh­t fight at London’s O2 Arena before flooring Haye twice in the third round.

He waited for the Londoner to miss wildly with a right then pounced to deliver booming right hands.

But it was a sweet left uppercut that really finished it in the fifth, as Bellew dropped him again with the shot he said he learned from ring greats Felix Trinidad and Joe Frazier.

Haye was eventually stopped on the ropes and Bellew’s emotions took over as he dedicated the fight to his partner Rachael’s brother, Ashley Roberts, who died last year while on holiday in Mexico. “I left an empty seat at ringside, and they’re not cheap,” said Everton fan Bellew, who had his Liverpool supporting pal’s name on his shorts.

“I just left it for him and I know he was there. I dedicate this fight to Ash.

“I know he is watching me and smiling at me and laughing at me. He’s getting ready for the Champions League Final, the Kopite t**t.

“It’s been a disastrous eight months. I can’t even put it into words.

“But it all makes sense when I get in a boxing ring. I just like fighting.

“I would beat

Andre Ward. You will all laugh and say I wouldn’t have a chance.

“But I would knock Andre Ward out. I could outbox

Andre Ward.”

Bellew will have started the battle to get back into the ring yesterday when

Rachael returned from holiday, as he admitted he will need her permission to continue.

But maybe he should take the fairytale finish that his rival Haye was never afforded.

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