Bellew: What is 'Sore Toe' Haye Doing? Is He Willing To Fight Me?

By Edward Chaykovsky

WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew (27-2-1, 17KOs) is still wondering if two division champion David Haye is willing to fight him in the future.

Bellew captured the WBC crown in May after knocking out Ilunga Makabu at Goodison Park. After that victory, he called for a showdown with Haye.

On October 15th at the Echo Arena, Flores will make the first defense of his career against Haye's best friend, cruiserweight contender and TV commentator BJ Flores (32-2-1, 20KOs). Flores has been preparing with Haye's trainer, Shane McGuigan.

In his first fight since knocking out Dereck Chisora in July 2012, Haye returned to the ring in January and knocked out Mark de Mori inside a round, and then blew out previously undefeated Arnold Gjergjaj in two rounds in May. Both opponents were severely overmatched.

Bellew is wondering when Haye is actually going to face an opponent with a pulse.

"We'll have to see how 'sore toe' is getting on. We've got to see what he's doing. We don't know whether he's coming or going. One minute he's fighting, the next minute he's not. Ultimately my career does not need David Haye to keep going forward. I will keep going forward and I will take on the best challengers out there, who are available," Bellew told Sky Sports.

"We have BJ Flores and he's willing to fight me. We've got to get on with it from there. With regards to David, does he want to keep fighting clown of the month? Last time he was out against someone called the 'Cobra.' He turned out to be a worm once he got in the ring and before that he fought the championship boxer of YouTube, a guy who learned to box from YouTube. David's doing his thing. I don't like to call fighter's bums, but he's doing his weakest fighter of the month club, that's what he's doing, that's who he's fighting."