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David Haye vs Tony Bellew as it happened: Haye beaten after suffering suspected Achilles injury
Re-live the heavyweight fight at the O2 Arena
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Your support makes all the difference.Tony Bellew defeated David Haye in a stunning upset at London's O2 Arena after taking full advantage of an ankle injury that the ex-heavyweight world champion suffered in the sixth round, with Shane McGuigan pulling Haye out of the fight in the 11th round.
Bellew impressed in the opening round as he looked to pick Haye off with a number of counters, but Haye grew into the fight and started to dominate as he looked for the big knockout.
However, Haye appeared to slip midway through the sixth round, and he immediately glanced down at his right foot before limping back to his corner. Haye was in obvious discomfort, but wanted to continue the fight and valiantly fought on. Bellew grew in confidence though, and in the 11th round he landed a left hook that sent Haye crashing through the ropes and brought in the towel from McGuigan.
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When is it?
The fight will take place on Saturday 4 March at London’s O2 Arena.
What time will it start?
The first fights of the night start from 5.10pm, with Haye and Bellew expected to make their ring entrances around 10.30pm.
Where can I watch it?
The main event and the undercard will be shown live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Alternatively, you can bookmark this article, which will become The Independent’s live blog.
Who’s on the undercard?
Sam Eggington vs Paulie Malignaggi
WBC international welterweight title, 12 rounds
Ohara Davies vs Derry Matthews
WBC silver super lightweight title, 12 rounds
Lee Selby vs Andoni Gago
Super-featherweight, 10 rounds
Ted Cheeseman vs Jack Sellars
Super-welterweight, 10 rounds
Katie Taylor vs Monica Gentili
Lightweight, 6 rounds
David Allen vs David Howe
Heavyweight, 6 rounds
Craig Glover vs Jake Bonallie
Cruiserweight, 4 rounds
What are their records?
Wins, wins by knockout, losses, draws
Haye: W28 KO26 L2 D0
Bellew: W28 KO18 L2 D1
Who will win?
What are they saying?
David Haye: “On Saturday night you will see a real destruction job. Knocking him down for 10 seconds does nothing for me. I'm predicting a quick knock-out, a showreel knockout, a violent knock-out...
“He's got under my skin, he's chased me for a year-and-a-half, really made things personal. I'll make sure he never, ever, ever does that again.”
Tony Bellew: “It’s going to take a big shot to land right on the chin to drop me. People don’t drop me with shots on the temple. As any fighter does, we all go down. Very few get up.
“I’ve done it on multiple occasions. Once he sees that I can keep coming after he’s landed something of decent size, that’s when his will is going to fall apart.”
What are the odds?
Odds provided by 888.com
Haye: 2/13
Bellew: 4/1
Haye by KO: 1/4
Haye by points: 13/2
Bellew by KO: 13/2
Bellew by decision: 16/1
Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of David Haye vs Tony Bellew.
The grudge match of the moment in British boxing will finally be settled tonight after five long months of slaps, jibes and threats to cave skulls in.
It feels like it's been a long time coming, but these two will eventually meet in ring at around 10.30pm.
Until then, there's an undercard that carries its own intrigue. Sam Eggington meets Paulie Malignaggi in a real 'crossroads' encounter, while Derry Matthews has a stern test in Ohara Davies.
Stay tuned for build-up live from London's O2 Arena...
Our boxing columnist Martin Hines is one of many who have not been swept up by the hype surrounding this fight.
Here, he explains why it's a match-up designed to lure in the casuals.
But yeah, obviously, please do still follow this live blog. Erm...
Haye and Bellew's first press conference this week was perhaps the most eventful, what with that 'f****** r******' comment hitting headlines everywhere.
Our man Steve Bunce was there and for all the theatrics, it showed just how vitriolic their rivalry is.
The build-up has been dominated by unsavoury comments on both sides.
Here's a brief history of how they have gradually irked each other over the last five months.
We're in place at the O2 Arena, and just in time for Ohara Davies vs Derry Matthews.
This is for the WBC silver super lightweight title and Hackney-born Davies, the holder, walked out to Chopin's Funeral March.
That may be even more ominous than some of Haye's trash-talking.
Ohara Davies def. Derry Matthews Third-round stoppage
Davies doesn't make good on the implicit threat to kill his opponent, but he does stop Matthews within three.
It was a cagey start by both, but Davies started to take the initiative in the second and had Matthews, a Liverpudlian, down twice in the third.
A bad omen for Scousers? We'll have to wait and see.
Up next, we have Sam Eggington's match-up with Paulie Malignaggi, which is a genuinely tight and intriguing contest.
But it's the main event that you're all here for. There's a poll at the top of this blog which will let you make your prediction for the night.
Let us know how you think it'll go.