Bellew vs Haye 2: David Haye claims Tony Bellew isn't a big enough puncher to win a heavyweight title
Wednesday 2 May 2018 10:06, UK
David Haye has laughed off Tony Bellew's dream of winning a world heavyweight championship.
Bellew toyed with the idea of challenging WBC champion Deontay Wilder or then-WBO holder Joseph Parker after beating Haye in his divisional debut last year.
If he couldn't knock me out in the state I was in, what chance would he have against any of the big heavyweights?
Asked if Bellew could emulate his achievement of winning a world title as a cruiserweight and a heavyweight, Haye exclusively told Sky Sports: "No. Becoming a heavyweight champion, [after unifying the cruiserweight titles], has only ever happened twice in boxing history.
"The first was Evander Holyfield when he knocked out Buster Douglas, who had knocked out Mike Tyson.
"And me, fighting Nikolai Valuev. They are the only times it has happened."
Haye unified the cruiserweight belts by beating Enzo Maccarinelli in 2008, then became a two-weight world champion by out-pointing the 7'2'' Valuev, who was seven stone heavier.
"Me and Holyfield were huge punchers, not only at cruiserweight, but at heavyweight also," Haye said.
"I've tasted Bellew's punches. He couldn't knock me unconscious in the last fight. If he couldn't knock me out in the state I was in, what chance would he have against any of the big heavyweights?"
Bellew captured the vacant WBC cruiserweight title against Ilunga Makabu at Goodison Park two years ago.
He weighed a stone lighter than Haye prior to their first fight last year.
