| Fight Name: | Grudge Match |
| Fight Date: | 4 March 2017 |
| Location: | The O2 Arena, Greenwich, London, UK |
| Fighter1: |  David Haye |
| Nickname1: | "The Hayemaker" |
| Hometown1: | Bermondsey, London |
| Purse1: | £4,200,000 |
| Record1: | 28–2 (26 KO) |
| Height1: | 6 ft 3 in |
| Weight1: | 224+1/2 lb |
| Style1: | Orthodox |
| Recognition1: | WBO No. 1 Ranked Heavyweight IBF No. 4 Ranked Heavyweight WBA No. 6 Ranked Heavyweight The Ring No. 8 Ranked Heavyweight |
| Fighter2: | Tony Bellew |
| Nickname2: | "Bomber" |
| Hometown2: | Toxteth, Liverpool |
| Purse2: | £2,800,000 |
| Record2: | 28–2–1 (18 KO) |
| Height2: | 6 ft 3 in |
| Weight2: | 213+1/2 lb |
| Style2: | Orthodox |
| Recognition2: | WBC Cruiserweight Champion The Ring No. 3 Ranked Cruiserweight TBRB No. 5 Ranked Cruiserweight |
| Result: | Bellew defeated Haye via 11th round TKO |
David Haye vs. Tony Bellew, billed as Grudge Match,[1] was a professional boxing match contested on 4 March 2017.[2]
Since making his 2016 comeback, David Haye had collected two quick stoppage victories over relatively unknown opponents. Despite being expected to face former WBO champion Shannon Briggs in September[3] this never materialized.[4] [5] [6]
In October, following his win over BJ Flores, WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew immediately hit the ringside Haye with a verbal assault referring to him as 'Sideshow Bob'.[7] This continued in the post-fight interview with Bellew stating Haye has been 'conning the British public' since he announced his comeback. Bellew's promoter, Eddie Hearn, claimed the fight could take place at heavyweight or at cruiserweight for Bellew's WBC title.[8] On 25 November 2016, Hearn announced on Twitter that Haye and Bellew would face each other in a heavyweight bout on 4 March 2017 at The O2 Arena, London. The fight was to be shown on Sky Box Office and would be Bellew's first heavyweight fight.[9] [10] Haye started as the odds-on favourite.[11]
There was little to separate the two fighters until the sixth round, when Haye injured his achilles tendon, causing him to fall twice.[12] Bellew then took control of the fight knocking Haye down and out of the ropes late in the eleventh round. Haye managed to make it to his feet, but his trainer Shane McGuigan threw in the towel,[13] giving Bellew a TKO win. Bellew credited Haye for his bravery, while Haye refused to blame his injury and stated that Bellew was "by far the better fighter", though stated that he wanted a rematch.[14] [15] At the time of stoppage, Bellew led on all three scorecards 96–93.
Speaking afterwards Bellew praised Haye, saying "In my eyes I've beaten the best cruiserweight this country has ever produced and one of the best heavyweights. I am honoured to fight in the same ring as him. I've looked up to him. He made the same mistake everybody else does. He underestimated me. Watch me on tape and I'm terrible but in the ring I'm harder to hit than you think." Bellew's Promoter Eddie Hearn told BBC Radio 5 Live, "We've got to go after a heavyweight world title for Bellew now. I am so pleased for him. He's secured the future for his family and they can live a wonderful life."
Despite the loss, Haye was widely praised for his performance in fighting on whilst severely injured. As Kevin Mitchell of The Guardian newspaper summed up of the fight:
Haye, staggering around the ring like a Saturday night drunk, went down swinging, his right ankle strapped in the ninth then unstrapped, his aged body sagging under every assault.....Even when thrashed through the ropes at the end, Haye clambered back and was willing to continue.... It will not seem so to him as he contemplates the fading of his days, but this was Haye's finest night."[16]
On 14 March, Hearn said that Bellew would fight again in 2017,[17] however a day later, he told Sky Sports that Bellew may need surgery on his broken hand which could see him out of action for up to five months.[18] On 28 March, the WBC changed Bellew's world championship status to "Emeritus" champion.
Confirmed bouts:[19]
| align=center | Country | align=center | Broadcaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Event | |||
| Sport 1 | |||
| Sky Arena | |||
| Sky Sports |