Tony Bellew (30-2-1, 20 KO’s) produced a career-best performance in destroying David Haye (28-4-0, 26 KO’s) inside five rounds, dropping his opponent heavily three times en route to a spectacular repeat victory at The O2 Arena.
After much gesturing and pantomime acts in the opening exchanges – rounds that Haye looked to have edged by simply getting off first – the fight would explode into life in the third session, with Bellew dropping Haye twice in a sixty-second salvo.
The first, a right hand to the top of the head disorientated the Bermondsey man, before a left hook-right hand combination from Bellew sent him crashing to the canvas.
Haye would drag himself to his feet, but was floored once again after another crunching hook from the Liverpudlian. Fortunately for Haye, he would be saved by the bell, with Bellew imploring referee Howard John Foster to let him deliver the knockout blow.
The dominance continued into the fourth round, with a visibly limping Haye nursing his surgically-repaired right achilles, limping badly while Bellew poured forward with the more accurate, spiteful shots.
After enjoying a red-hot start to the bout, Bellew brought an end to proceedings in brutal fashion in the fifth, landing a sizzling left hook that poleaxed Haye, driving him to the floor heavily.
The 37-year-old dragged himself bravely to his feet, but with Bellew waiting in the wings, Haye was saved from further punishment by the referee, recording another monumental upset victory and surely sending the former two-weight World champion Haye into retirement.
An ecstatic Bellew broke down in tears upon the climax of the fight, speaking candidly in his post-fight interview before calling out retired ex-‘pound for pound- supremo Andre Ward for a long-mooted bout.