The long-awaited grudge rematch between Tony Bellew and David Haye is officially off.
Haye has pulled out of the fight, which was scheduled to take place on December 17 at London’s O2 Arena, citing an arm injury.
Respected ESPN boxing reporter Dan Rafael first broke the news on Monday afternoon that ‘The Hayemaker’ would no longer be physically able to attempt to avenge his March defeat to his British rival.
Former heavyweight world titleholder David Haye (28-3, 26 KOs) has withdrawn from his rematch against Tony Bellew (29-2-1, 19 KOs), whom he was supposed to face Dec. 17 at the O2 Arena in London, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told ESPN… https://t.co/O466bexAM4
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) November 20, 2017
Bellew stopped Haye in the 11th round of their first meeting, after a ruptured Achilles forced Haye to fight on one leg for half the fight.
However the bad blood continued simmering even after the pair embraced in the ring eight months ago and, with a healthy appetite among fans to see them do it again, Bellew vs. Haye II was put together.
Rumours of a Haye injury began circulating over the past week or so but they were brushed off by Bellew’s camp as attempts to distract the Liverpool heavyweight from the task at hand.
And while that may well have been the case with the original reports, this one would seem to be the real deal.
Haye insisted that he was in the shape of his life coming into the rematch with Bellew but, at the age of 37 and facing another surgery, who knows if we will see him take to the ring again.
