By Elliot Foster
Tony Bellew has been labelled a 'fake heavyweight' by WBC International champion Dillian Whyte following his victory over David Haye.
WBC cruiserweight king Bellew, 34, retired former WBA heavyweight champion Haye inside 11 rounds at the O2 Arena on Saturday.
The aforementioned Whyte, who was last in action against Dereck Chisora last December, believes Bellew only won because 36-year-old Haye suffered an Achilles injury, on which he has since had surgery, in the sixth round, exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office.
"[It’s] funny [that] Tony Bellew struggled to beat a one-legged David Haye and now he thinks he's the next Muhammad Ali," Whyte said on social media, before using the hashtag #FakeHeavyweight.
But Bellew, who suffered a broken right hand during the fight and has admitted that retirement is an option after a night which “doesn’t even touch the sides” of his world title victory at Goodison Park last May, is unconcerned by the jibes of the WBC’s number four contender.
"David, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. He picked me," an elated Bellew said after the fight.
"It was genuine [the rivalry], I wanted to beat him more than anything.
"[But I have] so much respect for David as a fighter. We can do it again! I want Deontay Wilder. You want to sit down with the big man.
“I am the most valuable heavyweight in the world, outside of the champions, [and] I have one more night left.”
