By Edward Chaykovsky
WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew is not scared to head up to the heavyweight division to fight big puncher David Haye, who captured world titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight.
Last month in Liverpool, Bellew busted up Haye's close friend BJ Flores in three rounds. After the fight was over, Bellew was restrained as he attempted to confront Haye, who was calling the action from ringside for Sky Sport.
Haye has been inactive since since May. He was scheduled to fight again in December, but no opponent has been announced and he threw away a planned fight with former champion Shannon Briggs, who is now facing Lucas Browne for the vacant WBA 'regular' heavyweight belt.
Haye is hunting for a world title, but that probably won't happen any time soon. The vacant WBO belt will be contested between Joseph Parker and Andy Ruiz next month. IBF champion Anthony Joshua is set to face Wladimir Klitschko in March/April - with the WBA 'super' and IBO belts also at stake.
Very few top heavyweights are willing to step in the ring to face Haye, but Bellew is ready to get in there as soon as possible.
"No one really wants to face David Haye," he told Sky Sports. "He's probably the most dangerous heavyweight in the world. It is such a big risk, with so little reward, which is why, and I understand why, nobody wants to face him. I will. He doesn't scare me. He's a massive puncher, he's lightning quick for a heavyweight and he's a really good fighter. That's why the heavyweights don't want to fight him. I think Haye sees me as a decent reward but a big risk. He knows deep down I am not an easy touch
"The reason I want to face him is I want to prove I am the best cruiserweight out there. In my eyes he's a big cruiserweight but he's still a cruiserweight I never thought anyone was going to choose to fight him, he was going to have to force their hand and for David to force someone's hand, he is going to have to beat a top heavyweight.
"If he want to put himself out there, I am one of the hottest fighters in the world right now. I am the WBC cruiserweight champion of the world, I am knocking out everyone I touch and I really do believe I will knock him out, too."
