David Haye v Tony Bellew betting tips: Make with Haye

Recommended bets: Haye v Bellew

2pts David Haye to beat Tony Bellew in rounds 4-6 at 5/2 - Haye's superior power should see him come out on top

1pt Haye to be knocked down and beat Bellew at 10/1 - Haye has been down several times before and may have to do it the hard way

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Following all the hype, insults and trash talking, it's fair to say that when domestic foes David Haye and Tony Bellew clash in London on Saturday night, it won't be one for the purists.

It's often difficult to gauge how much a supposed grudge match is being manufactured, but I think there is little doubt that these two domestic rivals really do not like each other in what has been a bad-tempered build-up.

So I think that once the first bell rings and the adrenalin kicks in, then gameplans will be forgotten and we will have a pure, no holds-barred slugfest to enjoy.

It may not last long as both can punch, but while it does we can expect plenty of drama and perhaps even a small portion of controversy.

There is little or no chance of this fight going the distance, but while it lasts it should definitely live up to the hype.

The key fact to remember in this match-up is that Bellew, the reigning WBC world cruiserweight champion, is moving up to heavyweight.

Haye, a former world cruiserweight champion himself, has been taking on the 'big boys' of boxing for the past eight years and although they both stand at around 6ft 3in will be the more natural at the weight.

It should be the thing that wins him the fight as he will have the greater power, although both are more than capable of ending a fight with one shot.

Haye (28-2, 26KOs) claimed the WBA world heavyweight title against the giant Nikolay Valuev back in 2009 and made two successful defences against John Ruiz and Audley Harrision before his one-sided loss to Wladimir Klitschko.

Haye believes his fight with Bellew is nothing short of a mis-match.

"He's a guy who got knocked out by a guy who weighs 50lbs less than me, standing here right now," he said.

"And I'm in the ring with him with 10oz gloves for 36 minutes, allowed to punch him on his head. 

"I'm way bigger than him, I punch harder than him. It's a horrendous mis-match." 

Yet what has been on the whole a stellar career, serious question marks still remain over the 36-year-old Hayemaker.

His last meaningful fight was against fellow Londoner Dereck Chisora at West Ham United's former home, Upton Park, over five years ago.

Since then there have been injury problems, shoulder surgery, inactivity and only two fights against poor opponents who did not last three rounds between them.

Haye, who boasts an 87 per cent knockout ratio, still insists he can make a mark in the heavyweight division and certainly a fight with fellow Briton Anthony Joshua somewhere down the line does make some appeal.

But apart from the obvious financial gains, I see little reason for Haye to be taking this fight.

Beating Bellew will not raise his stock as a heavyweight, whereas defeat would almost certainly leave his career in tatters.

It seems he has been goaded into it by Bellew and Haye really needs to guard against complacency otherwise his whole world could come crashing down.

Bellew is a Marmite character ... you either like him of you loathe him; an arrogant Scouse big-mouth or a family man with a deep knowledge of his chosen sport.

But he has got what he wanted in a fight with Haye at a sold-out O2 Arena in the country's capital.

Certainly at the start of their feud, most of the venom was coming from Bellew (28-2-1, 18KOs) and it appears that entering the ring with a dislike of an opponent brings the best out of him - think of Nathan Cleverly and BJ Flores.

You may not agree with some of his antics, such as trying to attack Haye at ringside following his win over Flores, but he is must-see.

The 34-year-old has everything to gain here and that makes him dangerous.

His world title will not be affected and if he performs well, then it will only enhance his reputation just as it did for Sheffield's Kell Brook recently when he jumped up two weight divisions to fight Gennady Golovkin.

Brook had a very slim chance of winning that night but I rate Bellew's chances better even though Haye is a big odds-on favourite across the board.

Bellew is a puncher and Haye was floored by cruiserweights Carl Thompson, Lolenga Mock and Jean-Marc Mormeck in his earlier days.

Stamina problems have always been an issue for Haye and if Bellew can get through the early rounds then his chances will increase greatly.

What he must not do is stand and trade because there will be only one winner should that happen. Instead he must look to assert his jab and be patient for the openings so he can land his devastating hooks.

Confidence is certainly no issue for the Scouser.

"There's a diva and a fighter and the fighter is going to crush the diva," said Bellew.

"I've prepared as best as I possibly can. I've prepared for a fight an  absolute dog-fight, he's been preparing for a fight in a creche. 

"He's extremely shook and that is the best way of saying it. All I am hoping for is he doesn't cry off with some sort of injury."

I do think Bellew has it in him to make life difficult for Haye, but ultimately I see the bigger man emerging victorious.

While he may be considered small by heavyweight standards, Haye is a true athelete with fast hands and agile movement.

He won't be a plodding target that Bellew can pick off, he will look to  slip the Liverpudlian's lead and bring his right hand into play.

My big fear for Bellew is that the last time he faced a genuine big puncher, Adonis Stevenson back in 2013, he was halted inside six rounds and even when he won the WBC title against Ilunga Makabu last May he was put down in the first round by a left hook.

Haye is by a country mile the biggest puncher Bellew will have faced and when he finally does land flush I believe it will end the fight.

However, I believe we may have a cagey start. Bellew will be wary and Haye will be rusty so I think it will take several rounds for it to get going.

But once it does I feel Haye will get through on the back of his clever movement and produce a fight-ending shot.

So I am taking the 5/2 being widely offered about Haye winning between rounds four and six as he gradually gets on top.

I do think there could also be a twist in this encounter and as I've  already said I believe Bellew can cause problems so I am also going to  have small wager on the 10/1 being offered by Sky Bet for Haye to win after being knocked down.

Where to watch on TV: Sky Sports Box Office 

David Haye v Tony Bellew

Fight Card Date: Saturday March 4, 2017
Venue: O2 Arena, London
TV Start Time: 1800 GMT, Sky Sports Box Office
Main event time: Around 2230 GMT    

Starting with the headline event, in descending order. Times listed in brackets are GMT, approximate & subject to change. Fights 12 rounds unless stated

Click on the Sky Bet odds for more fight markets   

David Haye (1/6) v Tony Bellew (6/1 - Price Boost)
(Heavyweight - 2230)

Sam Eggington (4/9) v Paulie Malignaggi (7/4)
(WBC international welterweight title - 2130)

Ohara Davies (1/6) v Derry Mathews (4/1)
(WBC silver super-lightweight title - 2045)

Katie Taylor (1/100) v Monica Gentili (16/1)
(6x2 women's featherweight - 2000) 

David Allen v David Howe
(6x heavyweight - 1945) 

Lee Selby (1/100) v Adoni Gago (16/1)
(10x3 featherweight – 1900) 

Ted Cheeseman (1/25) v Jack Sellars (9/1)
(10x3 super-welterweight - 1815) 

Craig Glover v Jack Bonnalie
(4x3 cruiserweight - 1715)

David Haye v Tony Bellew: Tale of the Tape    

DAVID HAYE  

Age: 36
Fights: 30
Won: 28
Won By KO: 26
Drawn: 0
Lost: 2
Rounds Boxed: 122
Height: 6ft 3ins
Stance: Orthodox
Reach: 78ins  

TONY BELLEW  

Age: 34
Fights: 31
Won: 28
Won By KO: 18
Drawn: 1
Lost: 2
Rounds Boxed: 200
Height: 6ft 3ins
Stance: Orthodox
Reach: 74ins      
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Posted at 1550 GMT on 02/03/17.