David Haye’s Tony Bellew rematch could end up with the veteran retiring as he promises to knock out Scouse opponent
British duo will meet for the second time this December as Haye looks to avenge his defeat to Bellew in first bout
DAVID HAYE has threatened to retire from Boxing should he fail to get the knockout against cruiserweight turned heavyweight Tony Bellew in December 17 when the pair face each other for a second time at London’s O2 Arena.
Bellew shocked the boxing world with his surprise 11th round victory over fellow Brit David Haye on March 4 this year when 'The Haymaker' suffered a horrific ruptured achilles in the 6th round that saw the heavyweight struggle to keep balance and stay on his feet.
However, because of the heart and grit of the Bermondsey banger, Haye was able to fight on with his injury for five rounds.
The Haymaker says he needs to raise his game in the rematch and how he will need to be on his “A-game.”
"I need to raise my game. If I show up in the same condition, if I turn up with the same tactics and the same mind-set then he's correct - he could walk away with the victory," Haye told Sky Sports News. "But I'm not a stupid fighter.
"I reviewed the fight and I know what happened - I understand his strengths, and I understand my strengths and weaknesses. He showed me something that I didn't believe he had.
"By the time I get into the ring [for the rematch] I'll be 37 but I haven't won multiple world titles in multiple weight classes by making the same mistake twice."
"The first time around, I wasn't mentally anticipating a tough battle but I found myself in one," he said.
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"This time, I know it can happen. I've tasted his punches, I've seen him take my punches. He's a serious contender so I need to be on my A-game mentally and spiritually. I didn't believe I needed that prior to the first fight."
Haye said if he doesn’t get the knockout in the rematch, he’ll know he isn’t the fighter he fought he was and will walk away from boxing.
"I know this is my last chance, I'll never get another chance after this. Whatever heart and determination you saw in the last fight, you'll get the same or more this time.
"If I can't knock Tony Bellew out, that's it for me. If I can't knock him out then I'm not the fighter that I once was, and I'm not the fighter that I believe I am."
