The odds of seeing Tony Bellew fight next month aren’t looking great right now.
Bellew was scheduled to take on British rival David Haye at London’s O2 Arena on December 17 but an arm injury to ‘The Hayemaker’ forced him to pull out of the bout on Monday afternoon.
Tyson Fury immediately threw his hat in the ring as a potential opponent for Bellew but he suggested an alternative date of next May for the fight as he is currently nowhere near fight shape and remains without a boxing licence.
Bellew’s camp has rejected the chance to fight Fury, citing the size of the controversial heavyweight as the biggest concern.
Fury offered to fight Bellew next May https://t.co/KY1jCvjsDe
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) November 21, 2017
Dillian Whyte seemed like a more realistic option when he suggested that he’d be available to make a quick turnaround following his October victory over Robert Helenius and return to the ring in just four weeks’ time against Bellew.
But ‘The Bomber’ has claimed that he probably won’t be entertaining any options for the December 17 date.
“I think the chances are very slim to none that December 17 is going to go ahead,” Bellew said on talkSPORT.
I apologise to all the people that the fake heavyweight @TonyBellew has let down by not having the balls to fight me & save the December show @SkySportsBoxing the mans a coward
— Dillian Whyte (@DillianWhyte) November 21, 2017
“There is a very, very minute possibility but it’s very doubtful in my opinion. There is just not a fight to fit the bill.
“I’m not going to sell the public a mismatch. I fight big fights. I fight proper fights.
“I fight world class fighters, former world champions, former Ring magazine champions, former undisputed champions.
“I don’t take easy tasks and I am not going to ask someone to come in with four weeks’ notice and give me an easy fight. I’m not going to do that to the public and I’m not going to do that to boxing.”
Matchroom Boxing told fans who had bought tickets for Bellew vs. Haye II that refunds would be available from the point of purchase while the tickets would also be valid for the rescheduled date of the grudge rematch, which is the plan for now.
