Tony Bellew beats David Haye in rematch at London’s O2 Arena

Tony Bellew produced an explosive efficiency to land a obedient attempting second stoppage clutch in 14 months over David Haye at London’s O2 Arena.

The Liverpool fighter checked out his very most productive as he avoided a Haye assault in spherical three forward of touchdown a unbelievable left hook and obedient hand to ground his rival.

A second knockdown followed moments later and Bellew – the underdog with bookmakers, as he became as soon as within the outdated fight – delivered a pin-level left hand within the fifth to as soon as more ship Haye down.

Haye nodded to acknowledge the shot and rose, handiest to be positioned below intense assault, prompting referee Howard Foster to pause the fight, sending Bellew racing to the nook of the ring in celebration.

Bellew, 35, regarded extremely delighted and shut to tears as he without a doubt ended a rivalry which had been a focal level in British boxing for added than 18 months.

Haye, 37, admitted he wished a spectacular clutch to lengthen his profession but without a doubt now the former world heavyweight and cruiserweight champion has nowhere to flip.

Bellew defies the percentages as soon as more

This rivalry has seen verbal sparring, torrid insults, fines and warnings from the British Boxing Board of Administration, Achilles and biceps surgery for Haye and soul-attempting to accumulate Bellew.

Bellew – at the side of his unimaginative brother-in-law Ashley’s identify across his shorts – acknowledged he conception the relative who died in August became as soon as sat within the arena somewhere staring at him.

His list became as soon as impressed, feeling his manner into the main two rounds as both men postured after coming below assault.

In spherical three, Bellew avoided three shots near the ropes and chased his man down to land a left-obedient which seen Haye sat down on the ropes.

A left hook served up one more knockdown and Haye regarded overwhelmed. The one who so gallantly fought on with a ruptured Achilles after six rounds closing time became as soon as floundering and a wild swing within the fifth left him originate to Bellew’s savage left hook.

It became as soon as ideal drama and the vogue of clinical list Haye himself had promised.

Bellew’s clutch closing time became as soon as shrouded in claims he would possibly perchance handiest beat an injured man. Those were silenced. Just appropriate the place aside does his worthy profession accelerate from right here?

He mentioned the former immediate-witted-middleweight and light-weight-heavyweight world champion Andre Ward but a return to cruiserweight and a bout in opposition to the winner of the World Boxing Trim Sequence for all four world titles is correctly likely.

Whatever the pause result, he’s making a behavior of defying the percentages at some stage in a profession performed out on his terms.

Is this the pause?

Earlier than the bout Haye acknowledged a bad result would possibly perchance hurt his legacy but without a doubt he’ll be remembered for his colossal nights.

His rise from the canvas in spherical four to rip cruiserweight titles from Jean Marc Mormeck in 2007 showcased his grit, whereas two years later he gave 99lbs in weight to Nikolai Valuev yet quiet beat the 7ft Russian to fulfil childhood dreams of turning into a global heavyweight champion.

Accurate the legendary Evander Holyfield can verbalize to own furthermore unified cruiserweight world titles forward of occurring to grab a heavyweight crown.

He wore headphones as he waited for Bellew to affix him within the ring and after an intense seek data from-down, there were early indicators he regarded sharp, notably a straight obedient hand in spherical two.

But even grand shots had been mocked by Bellew and the knockdowns coupled with the actual fact Bellew became as soon as willing to be conscious stress this time spherical supposed Haye regarded fatigued by the fourth and his vulnerability became as soon as pounced upon.

As is broken-down, he entered the ring to the McFadden and Whitehead hit ‘Ain’t no stopping us now’. However the song has to pause at some level and after two surgical procedures and two defeats within the past 14 months, without a doubt now is the time for Haye.

‘Huge appreciate to both men’ – response on Twitter

Dilapidated world champion Frank Bruno: Mountainous congratulations to Tony Bellew. An positive efficiency as soon as more. My heart goes out to David Haye he gave it his all…be proud. Huge appreciate to both men, credit the place aside or not it’s due.

Dilapidated Olympic gold medallist and heavyweight boxer Audley Harrison: Congratulations to @TonyBellew – positive efficiency 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾. Father Time comes to us all, but @mrdavidhaye would possibly perchance be proud that he came support to gaze what he had left – not many will EVER enact what he did, so he can travel (if he chooses) PROUD.

WBA immediate-witted-middleweight title challenger Chris Eubank Jr: Hell of a fight, in no contrivance anticipated that end result. Congratulations Tony Bellew. David Haye… warrior till the pause.

Rodriguez takes world title – the undercard

Puerto Rico’s Emmanuel Rodriguez showed his class to rep the IBF bantamweight title with a unanimous decision over Paul Butler, who would possibly perchance not clutch the belt having missed the burden.

Butler has held the title forward of but became as soon as assign down heavily by a left hook early on and battled the distance despite breaking his nose.

In other locations, Rio 2016 silver medallist Joe Joyce landed his obedient professional clutch and the Commonwealth heavyweight title by stopping Lenroy Thomas with a left hook in spherical two.

Afterwards, Joyce talked up a gathering with Hughie Fury or Sam Sexton, who fight for the British title subsequent week.

Lightweight Luke Campbell warmed up for a that that you just can imagine summer season rematch with Yvan Mendy with a fifth-spherical stoppage of Troy James, whereas John Ryder delivered a body shot to pause home rival Jamie Cox at immediate-witted-middleweight.

Rio 2016 bronze medal-winner Joshua Buatsi moved to six professional wins from six with a fifth-spherical stoppage clutch over Frenchman Stephane Cuevas.