Boxer embraced the victor Tony Bellew, who he had threatened to put in hospital, but still insists pre-fight tirades were realIt did not take long for the public embrace of David Haye and Tony Bellew – the televised moment that delivered what seemed to be the heartwarming conclusion to months of mutual loathing – to fade like a forgotten family photo.By Thursday, Bellew, so generous to his rival in the glow of victory last Saturday night, was telling an Irish radio station that the pre-fight trash-talk was “all real”, adding: “The things he said to me declare that he’s an absolute scumbag. Like I said before: once a helmet, always a helmet.” Related: Tony Bellew stops hobbling David Haye in...
Tony Bellew’s victory at the O2 Arena has surely put an end to the Londoner’s career in the ring and he can now retire with £4m in the bankTwo fine fighters of contrasting temperaments but shared instincts – Paulie Malignaggi and Derry Mathews – said their reluctant goodbyes to boxing at the O2 Arena in London and, while both will be missed, they were right to bow to the inevitable. Whether David Haye follows their lead should be learned in the next few days.In the tumult after Tony Bellew’s measured and universally unexpected deconstruction of Haye in front of 20,000 fans in the main event on Saturday night Haye retreated as graciously as he could to a nearby hospital and...
The heavyweight will quietly hope that pushing the promotion of bout against Tony Bellew beyond acceptable limits does not backfire on him and the sportDavid Haye would seem to be too much of an animal for some people – but not so abominable as to stop hundreds of thousands of them paying to watch him try to “cave in the skull” of Tony Bellew at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday night.In recent days, he has also said: “I’m looking at putting a combination together that really hurts him, a Tommy Morrison-Ray Mercer finish where his brain hasn’t even told his legs to fall down and I’m still hitting him as he’s upright. I’m looking at doing a real...
Bolton boxer lands farewell blow on promoter after agreeing terms with Filipino fighter and former sparring partner for 23 April showdownIn what looks a coordinated social media announcement designed to bypass respective advisers Amir Khan and Manny Pacquiao are telling the boxing world they are happy to fight each other on 23 April, five years after their last sparring sessions in the Los Angeles Wild Card gym of Freddie Roach.It is not “a done deal”, as some are claiming, because they have yet to bring together Pacquiao’s contract lawyer, Michael Koncz, and his promoter, Bob Arum, which lately has been like docking the royal yacht in Camden Lock. Related: Manny Pacquiao confirms talks with Amir Khan to dash Jeff Horn's hopes Continue reading...
Former world super-bantamweight champion, who is making noises at featherweight, is leaving Joe Gallagher’s care to base himself at the Wild Card gym in Los AngelesScott Quigg has split with Joe Gallagher after six years to join Freddie Roach in the US. It is a gamble that could launch him into a rematch with Carl Frampton or put him into the mix at featherweight, a division that is brimming with possibilities.The 28-year-old former world super-bantamweight champion, now making noises at 9st, insisted on Monday the parting was amicable, although only those close to the camp saw it coming. Related: Carl Frampton beats Scott Quigg to unify world super-bantamweight titles Continue reading...