Booth, Nelson, Moore, Crolla, Smith and Coyle
Wednesday 15 February 2017 16:22, UK
Tony Bellew and David Haye's rivalry stepped up a notch after the WBC champion knocked out BJ Flores on Saturday. Beforehand, we asked the experts about Bellew vs Haye...
Yes, it is a fight that I would like to see, so Tony can get his just rewards. I think Tony deserves big-money fights and that is one for him. He has paid his dues, he has taken his licks, yet he has maintained his determination in boxing. It is an extremely dangerous fight for Tony, but a fight that carries the risks that will bring all the rewards.
David is a natural cruiserweight not heavyweight, so the natural difference in size isn't that significant. Over the years, David is used to being in there with bigger, heavier punchers and Tony spent a lot of his career trying to make light heavy and I think the combination of those two things will be a factor in the fight, certainly early on in the bout.
I would love to see Haye and Bellew fight. I'm a huge boxing fan and we are taking over the sport in Britain where quality and depth are concerned. To see another big fight with two of our guys would be fantastic, it's great that we are talking about these fights that are massive on the world scene.
I don't personally think it will happen and the weight is one problem. Haye won't come down to cruiserweight now, he has really filled out at heavyweight and the last time I saw him, he looked really big, his chest was huge. That's one of the main reasons why I can't see it happening, there are big fights for either at their current weights, regardless.
That would be fireworks, a straightforward shoot-out. I don't know what is going on and sometimes I don't even know what day of the week it is in boxing. There are that many potential fights and possible dates, but I would be ready to watch this.
Haye is a natural cruiserweight anyway and I really can see him going back down to take on Bellew - unless he is fighting AJ of course! Nobody would know who wins it because they both carry awesome power and I have a feeling that would be one of those build-ups that none of us would want to miss.
We all want to see this one but the devil is in the detail. I think even Tony agrees that if Haye comes in at a certain weight, he has the power to take him out the second he touches him. I think the lighter he is the more dangerous Haye is; we haven't seen that spring and slickness in his new era as a heavyweight. The bigger Haye comes in, the better it is for Bellew.
I just can't see it being at cruiserweight. Haye probably could come in under 15 stone, but he would be a heavyweight and Bellew certainly wouldn't be. He told us he wanted Haye even before he won that world title and as soon as he did, he came out with it again. It's very, very possible this will happen.
There are two reasons I want to see this fight. The build-up will be entertaining to say the least, because both of them will have more to say about each other and I actually enjoy listening to both Bellew and Haye. The second is they are both big punchers and big cruiserweights.
I am not sure Haye would get back down, though, so I'd probably have it at catchweight - about 208 pounds - which would be realistic. It would be a great fight and yes, I think David would be the favourite but I can tell you now I won't put any money on him. It would be a calculated gamble from Tony, who is one of the hardest hitting cruiserweights we've seen for a long, long time.
I don't think we will get to see it, sadly. It all depends at what weight; Haye has put on some serious muscle and I just can't see him going back down to cruiserweight. If he did go back down I know who my money would be on and that would be Bellew. I've known Bomber for a long time and he's never been body beautiful, but never judge a book by its cover, he can hit very, very hard.
If Bellew wants to move up it could well happen and if it does, we know it is going to be a great build-up, that's for sure. They're two big characters but unless Bomber is happy to move up, I just can't see it.
I would like to see it like everyone else. It's a big fight and one we would all look forward to but, if I am honest, I would rather see Bellew unify the division - and I know he'd like to do that.
The problem is if it does happen it's got to be at cruiserweight because Bellew is the champion and he's been there before, but I can't see Haye able or wanting to go back down. That's why as much as I'd like to see it, I just can't see it happening.
Bellew against Haye is a massive fight that all fans would love to see and it would be hugely entertaining. If it's the fight that Bellew wants then he should do all he can to go and get it. He says that he wants to fight the best around and who better than against one of the best cruiserweights we've seen.
It's a fight that belongs in a football ground, the Echo Arena in Liverpool is simply not big enough for a fight of this magnitude. I would like to see it at the O2 in London, it's the best arena in the world in my eyes.
