The biggest names in British boxing descended on Cardiff at the weekend to cover Anthony Joshua’s title defence.
Sky Sports Box Office’s coverage was headed up by former world cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson, former world super-middleweight champion Carl Froch, former European middleweight champion Matthew Macklin and former world cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew.
But one conspicuous absence among the broadcast team was David Haye, whose expertise and eloquence almost always sees him front and centre for the big fights.
WATCH: @TonyBellew said he wants to prove the doubters wrong again in his rematch with David Haye on December 17th. https://t.co/UhGYefy5rG
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) October 29, 2017
But there was no sight of ‘The Hayemaker’ at the Principality Stadium on Saturday night, when Joshua extended his perfect professional record to 20-0 with a 10th round stoppage of durable challenger Carlos Takam.
According to Bellew, Haye’s absence was no coincidence.
With just seven weeks to go until one of the most anticipated grudge rematches in British boxing history – Bellew vs. Haye II – Bellew insists that his rival simply refused to be a part of the coverage of the Joshua fight when he learned that the Liverpool heavyweight would be there.
“He [Haye] can’t stand me,” he told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast. “He can’t even look me in the face. He should have worked on Saturday on the AJ [Anthony Joshua] fight, but he wouldn’t be there because I was there.
“He detests me in every single way possible. He doesn’t believe I’m even on the same level as him.
“I haven’t really got any hatred towards David Haye, I just think he’s a plant pot!
“I’m looking forward to punching him in the face.”
