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Tony Bellew will fight again this year, says promoter Eddie Hearn

The heavyweight boxer suggested he could retire after beating David Haye earlier this month, but Hearn has said the Liverpudlian will return to the ring, possibly for a rematch with Haye

Luke Brown
Tuesday 14 March 2017 15:59 GMT
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Bellew's promoter has said the boxer will return to the ring
Bellew's promoter has said the boxer will return to the ring

Tony Bellew will fight again this year following his victory over David Haye, his promoter Eddie Hearn has said, squashing speculation that the heavyweight boxer could retire.

Bellew beat Haye in the 11th-round of their eagerly awaited fight on March 4, with Haye’s trainer Shane McGuigan throwing in the towel to end the contest.

Haye tore his Achilles in the 6th-round of their fight at the O2 Arena, with Bellew breaking his hand seeking the knockout prior to the stoppage.

Bellew, 34, claimed after his victory that he was considering retiring from the sport. But Hearn has confirmed that the Livperpudlian would fight again this year, possibly in a rematch against Haye.

"We're going to fight this year, 100 percent," said Hearn on Sky Sports News HQ.

"Like Bellew said, the decision will be made by him and his family and it's my job to present the opportunities to him. I believe the Haye rematch will be one of those opportunities.

"Part of Tony Bellew wanted to beat him fully fit. There are some unanswered questions.

"It was an epic event, it was a thrilling fight but the Haye rematch certainly remains one of the biggest fights out there for both guys.”

Bellew has said he wants to fight heavyweight champion Wilder

Hearn did however add that Bellew has a number of different opportunities following the biggest win of his career, suggesting that he could ignore a lucrative rematch with Haye in favour fighting either Deontay Wilder or Joseph Parker.

"For Haye the only fight out there is the Tony Bellew rematch. For Tony there's the Haye rematch, there's Parker, there's Wilder, there's Tyson Fury, there's plenty of options,” he added.

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