Editing David Haye (section)

====Haye vs. Bellew====
{{Main|David Haye vs. Tony Bellew}}
Following his win over [[BJ Flores]] in October, WBC cruiserweight champion [[Tony Bellew]] immediately hit out a verbal assault on rival Haye, who was ringside, repeating he's next. Referring to Haye as '[[Sideshow Bob]]', Bellew carried on the verbal assault in the post-fight interview using profanity and taunting Haye, stating he has been 'conning the British public' since he announced his comeback. Bellew's promoter, [[Eddie Hearn]], claimed the fight could take place at heavyweight or at cruiserweight for Bellew's WBC title.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/37669398|title=Tony Bellew defends WBC world cruiserweight title by stopping BJ Flores|date=2016-10-15|newspaper=BBC Sport|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-10-16}}</ref> On 25 November 2016, Hearn announced on Twitter that Haye and Bellew would face each other in a heavyweight bout on 4 March 2017 at The O2 Arena, London. The fight was shown on Sky Box Office and was Bellew's first heavyweight fight.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/10671658/haye-bellew-on-box-office|title=David Haye and Tony Bellew will face each other in a huge domestic clash on Sky Sports Box Office|work=Sky Sports }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldboxingnews.net/2016/11/25/news/david-haye-v-tony-bellew-set-for-march-4-in-london-at-heavyweight|title=David Haye v Tony Bellew set for March 4 in London at heavyweight|date=25 November 2016|access-date=25 November 2016|archive-date=26 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126003954/http://www.worldboxingnews.net/2016/11/25/news/david-haye-v-tony-bellew-set-for-march-4-in-london-at-heavyweight|url-status=dead}}</ref>

At the first press conference on 30 November, a fight broke out as Haye and Bellew went face to face and it appeared on the replay that Haye had managed to land a left hook on Bellew, leaving a mark. Both fighters were then separated before going their own ways.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ringtv.com/475425-david-haye-tony-bellew-press-conference-erupts/|title=DAVID HAYE-TONY BELLEW PRESS CONFERENCE ERUPTS|date=30 November 2016|website=The Ring|access-date=30 November 2016}}</ref> On 3 March 2017, Haye weighed 224.9 pounds, heavier than Bellew who came in at 213lbs, a career high.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ringtv.com/487289-weigh-alert-haye-224-9-bellew-213-8/|title=Weigh-in alert: Haye 224.9, Bellew 213.8 - The Ring|date=2017-03-03|work=The Ring|access-date=2017-03-03|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/david-haye-and-tony-bellew-weigh-in/|title=David Haye and Tony Bellew weigh in - Boxing News|date=2017-03-03|work=Boxing News|access-date=2017-03-03|language=en-US}}</ref>

After months of trash talk back and forth the two met in the ring. The bout started as a stalemate until the sixth round, when Haye injured his [[achilles tendon]], causing him to fall twice. Bellew then took control of the fight as Haye opted to continue. Bellew knocked Haye down and out of the ropes late in the eleventh round. Haye managed to make it to his feet, but his corner threw in the towel, giving Bellew a TKO win. Bellew credited Haye for his bravery, while Haye refused to blame his injury and stated that Bellew was "by far the better fighter", though stated that he wanted a rematch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/39170236|title=Tony Bellew beats David Haye with 11th-round stoppage|last=Reddy|first=Luke|date=2017-03-05|website=BBC Sport|access-date=2017-03-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/tony-bellew-drops-stops-david-haye-massive-upset-results--114239|title=Tony Bellew Drops, Stops David Haye in MASSIVE Upset - Boxing News|website=www.boxingscene.com|date=4 March 2017 |language=en-us|access-date=2017-03-06}}</ref> Haye was taken to the hospital following the bout but was released the next morning. It was revealed that Haye had ruptured his right achilles tendon and underwent surgery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BOX_HAYE_BELLEW?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-03-04-18-40-02|title=News from The Associated Press|website=hosted.ap.org|access-date=2017-03-06|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305003840/http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BOX_HAYE_BELLEW?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-03-04-18-40-02|archive-date=5 March 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2017/03/05/david-haye-taken-to-hospital-after-leg-injury-in-loss-against-tony-bellew-6488931/|title=David Haye taken to hospital immediately after brutal fight against Tony Bellew|first=Coral|last=Barry|date=2017-03-05|website=Metro|access-date=2017-03-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxing/david-haye-spent-two-hours-9973500|title=Details emerge of Haye's dramatic ambulance ride to hospital after Bellew defeat|last=Lawless|first=Matt|date=2017-03-06|work=mirror|access-date=2017-03-06}}</ref> At the time of stoppage, Bellew led on all three scorecards 96–93. With a 60–40 split of the £7 million purse, Haye earned £4.2 million while Bellew earned £2.8 million, his biggest purse by far.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxing/david-haye-pocket-14m-more-9973518|title=David Haye's purse revealed after defeat by Tony Bellew|last=Domin|first=Martin|date=2017-03-06|work=mirror|access-date=2017-03-06}}</ref> It was reported that the fight generated 890,000 buys on Sky Sports Box Office.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.givemesport.com/1038905-anthony-joshua-to-receive-substantial-payday-for-wladimir-klitschko-fight|title=The staggering amount Joshua will pocket from Klitschko fight [Sun]|date=2017-04-26|website=GiveMeSport|access-date=2017-04-26}}</ref>

Despite the loss, Haye was widely praised for his performance in fighting on whilst severely injured. As Kevin Mitchell of ''[[The Guardian]]'' newspaper summed up of the fight: <blockquote>Haye, staggering around the ring like a Saturday night drunk, went down swinging, his right ankle strapped in the ninth then unstrapped, his aged body sagging under every assault.....Even when thrashed through the ropes at the end, Haye clambered back and was willing to continue.... It will not seem so to him as he contemplates the fading of his days, but this was Haye's finest night."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/mar/05/tony-bellew-david-haye-boxing|title=Tony Bellew contemplates rich future after shock win over David Haye|last=Mitchell|first=Kevin|date=2017-03-05|work=the guardian|access-date=2017-03-05}}</ref></blockquote>