The March 4 blockbuster, recently announced for The O2 in London, will mark a top division debut for WBC cruiserweight champion Bellew, who’ll be weighing above the 200 pound limit as he battles Haye.
In previous interviews with WBN, Bellew and trainer David Coldwell had discussed the possibility of a catchweight limit for a Haye encounter, which could have realistically been set between 210 and 215 pounds.
“We could fight at a catchweight, but that all depends on what we can agree as me versus him is a big fight. We’ve sparred together before so he knows what I’m about and how good I can be. But that was ten years ago and I’ve improved massively since then, plus I believe he was in his prime back then,” Bellew told WBN in November 2015 following his revenge win over Nathan Cleverly.
In October 2016, Coldwell said to WBN: “It doesn’t matter where it’s at, that fight sells as you’ve got two massive characters and two explosive characters. Haye’s got form outside the ropes too and both are volatile people. Both can fight and both get really, really punch.
“It’s obvious Haye is not going to come in at cruiserweight. He’s been making it clear he’s a heavyweight and he’s going to box at that weight. I would imagine Tony would come in a bit over the cruiserweight limit. I don’t know exactly but we’ll see. Things like that need to be sorted out but it is what it is and we understand that.”
As tickets went on sale to O2 Priority customers, promoter Hearn clarified the position ahead of the two fighters meeting up at a kick-off press conference this week.
“The fight is agreed at heavyweight. We don’t expect Haye to come in any higher than 220, maximum but there is no limit,” Hearn exclusively told World Boxing News on Monday.
On the back of a massive event between Gennady Golovkin and Kell Brook in the UK’s capital, Hearn is preparing for another in the spring on Sky Sports Box Office.
Tickets are expected to be sold out by Wednesday morning due to public demand for a Haye v Bellew bout, which is set to earn both boxers a pumper seven-figure pay day and a possible world title shot to follow.
