Haye Vows Destruction, Aims To Do a 'Joshua' Job on Bellew

As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, the heavyweight rematch between Tony Bellew and David Haye has been rescheduled for May 5.

Former cruiserweight world champion Bellew and ex-heavyweight title holder Haye had been due to renew their rivalry on December 17, only for the fight to be postponed after the latter tore his bicep in an accident on a stairwell.

Bellew claimed a stunning victory in their first meeting on March 4, defying the odds as Haye was rendered immobile by an ankle injury, leading his corner to throw in the towel in the 11th round.

In a statement, Bellew expressed his desire to end Haye's career and then take on another former world heavyweight champion in Tyson Fury, who has not fought since defeating Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015.

"I'm pleased to get a new date in the diary and I look forward to giving boxing fans a great night on May 5," Bellew said.

"To be honest I was looking forward to a great victory in December and a relaxing family break over Christmas but my mind is still very much on this fight and I will punish him for that.

"I now have a very clear plan for 2018 and that is to knock out David Haye and then knock out Tyson Fury and end both their careers but first things first I need to rid the sport of David Haye on May 5 and I look forward to doing this in what I believe will be an explosive fight."

Haye is looking to do a demolition job on Bellew.

"Come fight night, I'm not only looking at winning this fight, I really want to make a statement and show the world I am an elite heavyweight," Haye told Sky Sports News.

"I am a guy who can challenge for that No 1 spot. Anything other than a conclusive, spectacular victory, is a failure in my eyes. If I win the fight, but I struggle, I'm honest enough with myself to know the likes of Anthony Joshua, the No 1 in the division... if I cannot beat Tony Bellew in emphatic style, then I've got no business mentioning his name.

"Not only do I have to win, I have to win in a style that you would expect [from] the best heavyweight in the world. I don't want my performance to be any less than you would expect an Anthony Joshua to deal with Tony Bellew. For me to be having these aspirations of becoming the best in the division, I have to really do something special. What I have done in my last fight, and in my last three comeback fights, is not good enough to beat the best in the division, the Anthony Joshuas."