Tony Bellew says David Haye might not be part of his plans
Tuesday 16 August 2016 12:07, UK
Tony Bellew insists he will not pin his career hopes on a fight with former sparring partner, David Haye.
In August, Bellew (27-2-1-KO17) said he had his sights set on a domestic dust-up with Haye in 2017, after being crowned WBC world cruiserweight champion by beating Ilunga Makabu at Goodison Park in May.
'Bomber' will make the first defence of his belt, live on Sky Sports at the Echo Arena on October 15, against BJ Flores (32-2-1-KO20) who has been working with Haye's trainer, Shane McGuigan.
We don't know whether he's coming or going. One minute he's fighting, the next minute he's not. Ultimately my career does not need David Haye to keep going forward.
If he makes a successful defence of his title, Bellew said he wants to face the "best fighters" available and accepts this means keeping tabs on the progress of Haye, but made it clear his British rival needs to improve his level of opponent if he wants to stay in the mix at world level.
Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ, Bellew said: "We'll have to see how 'sore toe' is getting on. We've got to see what he's doing. We don't know whether he's coming or going. One minute he's fighting, the next minute he's not.
"Ultimately my career does not need David Haye to keep going forward. I will keep going forward and I will take on the best challengers out there, who are available.
"We have BJ Flores and he's willing to fight me. We've got to get on with it from there. With regards to David, does he want to keep fighting clown of the month?"
Haye's proposed fight with former world heavyweight champion, Shannon Briggs, has fallen through meaning the 35-year-old has no opponent scheduled since his last bout in May.
The two-weight world champion beat Mark de Mori inside a round in January in his first fight since losing to Wladimir Klitschko in July 2012, before recording a second-round knockout against the previously undefeated Arnold Gjergjaj.
"Last time he was out against someone called the 'Cobra'," Bellew added. "He turned out to be a worm once he got in the ring and before that he fought the championship boxer of YouTube, a guy who learned to box from YouTube.
"David's doing his thing. I don't like to call fighter's bums, but he's doing his weakest fighter of the month club, that's what he's doing, that's who he's fighting."
