Bellew beats Haye – but is it time they both retired?
Shock result at London's O2 Arena leaves fighters at the crossroads after proving their bravery in the ring
What now for David Haye and Tony Bellew? The build-up to their heavyweight clash at the O2 on Saturday night was poisonous but the bout was compelling and ended in the most unexpected fashion with Bellew, the underdog, finally stopping Haye in the 11th round.
However, the result was hardly conclusive as Haye injured his right foot in the sixth round, reportedly tearing his Achilles tendon. He spent the rest of the fight boxing on one leg.
The bravery of both men is not in doubt after the events of Saturday night, but there are question marks over both their futures.
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There were "more tears than laughter" at the O2 says Kevin Mitchell of The Guardian with Bellew "only reluctantly basked in the praise that enveloped his remarkable achievement".
"As Haye recovers from damage to the right Achilles tendon and wrenched knee that crippled him in the sixth round, and will almost certainly confine him to the comforting warmth of Miami for the rest of the year, Bellew contemplates a future rich with possibilities, none of which seem capable of turning his head."
Indeed, retirement now appears to be a realistic option for both fighters.
"The inconvenient truth is that this pair have nobody beyond each other to face," says Oliver Brown of the Daily Telegraph. "Haye is 36 and bedevilled by a mouth that writes cheques his body can no longer cash. Bellew is 34 and fast losing his enthusiasm for what he calls the 'freak show' of his sport."
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Bellew's promoter Eddie Hearn wants him to fight for a heavyweight title, but he may have to use all his powers of persuasion to make it happen.
"If many of this crowd took voyeuristic delight in Haye's stuttering demise, there was something equally sad that the winner, 34, said that he could retire after securing his children's future," says Rick Broadbent of The Times.
"In an ideal world, with both emerging with immense credit from the tripe of the hype, they should both stop now."
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David Haye almost a stone heavier than Tony Bellew
3 March
David Haye will have almost a stone weight advantage over Tony Bellew when the two heavyweights meet at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday.
The former world champion weighed in at 16st 9oz, while his rival tipped the scales at 15st 3lbs 8oz.
There was a "wonderful atmosphere" at the O2, says the Daily Mirror, which says the two boxers were not separated by a screen despite the bad blood between them - although there were bouncers on hand.
After being weighed, both men stared each other down for over a minute, "before Haye opted to break the tension", raising his hands and flexing his muscles for the crowd.
"The heavyweight rivals have been embroiled in a war of words ever since this bout was confirmed in November but the talking stopped as they stepped on the scales," says the Daily Mail.
"Bellew arrived on to the stage to a chorus of boos from the London crowd while his opponent was welcomed by his home fans. They were kept apart by security guards during the weigh-in but it didn't stop Bellew slipping in a few insults before the rivals stripped off to step on to the scales."
The Liverpudlian admitted his opponent looked the part, but said he would run out of "gas". His prediction for the match was: "David Haye quits and he makes an absolute disgrace of himself."
For his part, Haye was eager to remind the WBC cruiserweight champion that he had stepped up two weight divisions. "He's going to find out what it's like to be hit by a heavyweight," said the boxer, who forecast "a spectacular, violent knockout.
"This guy will never fight again," he said.
Haye is clear favourite to win the fight at odds of 1-6, while Bellew is available at 6-1.
Haye vs Bellew: Boxers keep their cool at final press call
2 March
Heavyweights David Haye and Tony Bellew served up a relatively tame press conference – at least by their incendiary standards - ahead of their clash at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday.
Although there were no punches thrown and the pair managed not to turn the air blue, the atmosphere was still "antagonistic", says the Daily Telegraph. "Haye's promise to send Bellew 'to sleep' was as violent as proceedings got, with Bellew taking every opportunity to suggest that Haye is not over the worst of his injury problems."
Nevertheless, Haye still sailed close to the wind with some of his comments, warning his Scouse opponent that he wanted to hurt him as much as possible.
"I'm predicting a quick knock-out, a showreel knock-out, a violent knock-out," said the Londoner. "He's made things personal; I'll make sure he never ever does that again. I'm legally allowed to do as much damage to him as I can inflict. He's in for a long, long world of hurt.
"I hope he keeps getting up - and make sure your little rat coach doesn't throw the towel in. Enjoy your last couple of days. This is going to feel so good."
Bellew, who Haye admits has got under his skin, told his rival that he looked "fantastic" and complimented him on his hair. He also made it clear he intends to tire Haye out.
"Haye was asked to dismiss reports of an Achilles injuries when he attended Wednesday's media workout and Bellew urged his rival not to bring up any fitness problems after their heavyweight clash," reports Sky Sports.
The press conference ended with the "longest of face-offs", says the Daily Mirror, but no punches were thrown, as had been the case in November.
The pair had also been warned by the British Boxing Board of Control over their "extremely disappointing comments" at their previous meeting on Monday, "where Haye insulted fans and gave graphic descriptions of hurting Bellew", says the BBC.
Haye vs Bellew: How to get tickets to boxing grudge match
28 February
Boxers David Haye and Tony Bellew will settle their differences in the ring at the O2 on Saturday after one of the biggest build-ups to a fight for years.
The bad blood between the pair was evident at the final press conference before their heavyweight clash. The two fighters traded insults and had to be kept apart by bouncers. Bellew described his opponent as a "broken man" and an angry Haye risked a fine by threatening to "hospitalise" his opponent.
Last year the pair came to blows at another press conference, and that has set the tone to the heated build-up. Saturday's fight was sold out in under an hour when tickets went on sale in December, but some are still available on the resale site Stubhub. The fight will be shown on Sky Sports Box Office, and costs £16.95. The two men are expected to enter the ring some time after 10.30pm on Saturday night.
Bellew, 34, is the WBC cruiserweight champion and has stepped up two divisions to take on Haye, a former heavyweight champion who returned to the ring in January 2016 after retiring in 2012.
Most observers agree that the hatred between the two men is genuine, but it's unclear what started it.
"They are two of the biggest personalities and punchers in world boxing – but Bellew first called out Haye after winning the vacant WBC cruiserweight title in May – an emphatic win over Ilunga Makabu," reports The Sun. "In October 2016, Bellew launched himself at Haye after flattening BJ Flores, sparking huge interest in the pair fighting each other.
"Then it was confirmed Bellew will move up to heavyweight, where Haye now operates, for the fight and they have traded words ever since – and even blows at the press conference. Both have talked big since the fight was announced, Haye labelling Bellew a 'coward' and Bellew vowing to have the last word despite being a big underdog."
The insults at their latest press conference were "unnecessary and unedifying", says BBC boxing commentator Steve Bunce. "But it was gripping for all the wrong reasons.
"I've never seen hatred like that ever in my life between two fighters... I think they are going to have to have a cordon of security people dividing them like they did when Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson fought each other."
Barry McGuigan, writing in the Daily Mirror, agrees. "Though it might seem like a pair of pantomime dames going at it from the outside, the atmosphere up there is genuinely charged," he says.
Both men are "likeable" outside the ring he says, but they genuinely do not get on. And what's more the fight could be a close one.
"On paper Haye holds all the cards, but this could get complicated for him if inactivity has blunted the edges," says McGuigan. "Though Haye is the bigger man, Bellew does not want for height or weight... If there is any ring rust, Bellew has the tools and the tenacity to break through."
The fight could be a thriller, agrees the Sun. "Both fighters carry destructive power and the fight could end at any point; both men can be hurt but both are also very dangerous," says the paper.