Summary

  • Tony Bellew beats David Haye by an 11th-round technical knockout

  • Haye was limping after hurting his ankle in sixth round of extraordinary fight

  • Both fighters embraced at end of fight at London's O2 Arena

  • Eggington beat Malignaggi earlier

  • Ohara Davies and Lee Selby also won fights

  • Katie Taylor wins her third pro fight

Live Reporting

Alex Bysouth

  1. He's a big Everton fan Tony Bellew, and he struts out in a blue robe to the same track the Toffees come out to at Goodison Park...

    It's Z-Cars, of course.

  2. What's that? Sounds like the Bomber's about to enter the building...

    The lights are down, the mobile phones are out. He's on his way.

  3. Can Bellew take Haye's biggest shot?

    Richie Woodhall
    Former world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

    "I can't see that David Haye has trained for 12 rounds. The fact he's come in at 16 stone means he's going to try for that stoppage in three or four rounds. 

    "But it's not a foregone conclusion that he will do it. What goes against Haye is ring-rust because he's not fought much in the last few years.

    "Bellew will get hit - it's just a question of whether he can hold on and get through the early rounds. 

    "Can he recover from the first big shot that he takes? That's the big question for me."

  4. The weigh-in

    weigh inGetty Images

    There was no barrier for the weigh-in, as Bellew tipped the scales at 15 stone 3lbs and Haye weighed in nearly a stone heavier at a little over 16 stone.

    HayeGetty Images

    A chiseled-looking Haye kept his cool for the first time since this fight was announced as the pair stared each other down.

    BellewGetty Images

    That didn't stop Bellew looking for a nibble, mouthing to his opponent "remember what's coming back at you David, remember what's coming back".  

  5. So how are Haye and Bellew shaping up for this one? We got a first glimpse this week...

  6. Bellew the next Bruno?

    Luke Reddy
    BBC Sport boxing reporter in London

    Arena.

    Frank Bruno appeared on the big screen a short while ago, bringing chants of "Bruno, Bruno, Bruno", as is always the way.

    Interestingly, much has been made about Tony Bellew stepping up to heavyweight. He boxed at that weight class as an amateur, winning an English title a few times. Guess who else won an English title as an amateur? 

    "Bruno, Bruno, Bruno".

    So that's not bad footsteps to follow in.

  7. Frank Bruno was on 5 live a few minutes ago, and he got some reception at the O2 Arena...

  8. Hopefully it'll be a close fight - McCoy

    BBC Radio 5 live

    20-time champion jockey AP McCoy on Radio 5 live:

    "They've sold the fight well so I hope it lives up to its billing. It's a great occasion. You just worry that Haye is that bit bigger than Bellew but hopefully it'll be a close fight."

    AP McCoyGetty Images

  9. BBC Radio 5 live are nabbing all the big names tonight. Plenty of sporting stars and celebrities in the house for this one.

    Here's AP McCoy...

  10. Get Involved

    #bbcboxing

    Niall: Well done to Katie Taylor. Not just a great fighter, fantastic ambassador, and behaves superbly.

    Katie TaylorGetty Images

  11. Hats off to Haye...

    Luke Reddy
    BBC Sport boxing reporter in London

    A quick word on David Haye. Are we forgetting how good this guy was?

    Unified the cruiserweight division, won a world title, yada yada.

    But look at Wladimir Klitcshko's record. He stopped five fighters in the run up to his win over Haye and two in the matches to follow.

    Haye was a devastating force. Maybe that's been forgotten, if only a little bit. Is he still? 

  12. Haye is favourite - Bruno

    BBC Radio 5 live

    Frank BrunoPA

    Former heavyweight world champion Frank Bruno on Radio 5 live : 

    "David Haye is the favourite but anything can happen. He could get caught or make a mistake. 

    "I hope it's a spectacular fight and no-one gets hurt, but my heart is with Haye because he's hyped up for it. But you never know in boxing.

    "Trash talk can be bad. But I think Bellew started it by calling Haye SpongeBob, but it's made a lot of people pack out the arena. You don't really need it but it happens."

  13. Spotlight on... the Bomber

    BellewGetty Images

    Tony Bellew has 28 wins and a draw from 31 contests.  

    The Liverpudlian, who once sparred with Haye, won the WBC world cruiserweight title last May before defending it in October with victory over BJ Flores.

    He will compete for the first time as a pro at heavyweight, completing a two-division jump after fighting as a light-heavyweight as recently as 2013.

    Bellew has also spent time away from the ring - playing a supporting role in the Rocky spin-off Creed.

  14. Spotlight on... the Hayemaker

    HayeGetty Images

    David Haye, who unified the cruiserweight division in 2008 before moving up to heavyweight, holds a record of 28 wins from 30 fights, 26 by the way of knockout.  

    But the 36-year-old has only fought twice since returning after more than three years out of the sport, picking up two routine victories before being called out by Bellew.

  15. Right then, let's take a quick look at the fighters...

  16. Plenty of knockouts

    Sam Eggington celebrates after beating Paulie MalignaggiPA

    Sam Eggington celebrates after beating Paulie Malignaggi

    So Katie Taylor has won, but let's take a look at the rest of the undercard...  

    Earlier tonight Welsh featherweight Lee Selby stopped Spain's Adoni Gago in the ninth round.

    Yorkshire's heavyweight David Allen , aka the White Rhino, beat David Howe in a second round knockout.

    Ohara Davies defended his WBC Silver Super-Lightweight title against Derry Mathews, with a third round stoppage.

    And Birmingham's Sam Eggington sensationally knocked out American veteran and former two-weight world champion Paulie Malignaggi in round nine to retain the WBC International Welterweight belt. 

  17. Haye making hay

    Luke Reddy
    BBC Sport boxing reporter in London

    Haye stall.

    Word on the street of course is that David Haye needed this fight to straighten out a few financial issues. That was brought up in news conferences, it's been mentioned a lot online and if I'm honest, plenty of the press pack say it's the case.

    Whatever Haye's finances, he will pick up a few million pounds as a minimum tonight and that's before pay-per-view sales. 

    He also has his own retail stall in the O2. You can pick up a Hayemaker hoodie for £35. The business of boxing has many tentacles. 

  18. Remember there's no title on the line for this one, just a whole lot of pride - and a lot of cash.  

  19. 'Their hatred is 100% real'

    Steve Bunce
    Boxing pundit on BBC Radio 5 live

    "Belts don't mean a thing. 

    "The hatred between the two is 100% real. This level of malice I've never experienced in 30 years of being at ringside."

  20. The mind games continue ...

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    Remember, David Haye has his own history with Dereck Chisora. In February 2012, after losing to Vitali Klitschko, Chisora brawled with Haye at the post-fight press conference. 

    The two fought again later that year, this time in the ring at West Ham's Boleyn Ground in London. Haye won with a clinical stoppage in round five.