TONY BELLEW could meet David Haye in a non-title catchweight fight, his trainer Dave Coldwell has revealed.
Since winning the WBC cruiserweight title against Ilunga Makabu last weekend, Bellew has been trading barbs on social media with former unified cruiser king Haye.
Though no decision has been made on Bellew’s next move, a high-profile domestic clash with Haye – who now operates at heavyweight – is being considered.
“Obviously I’ve seen David Haye’s Instagram, so that [fight] is a possibility,” Coldwell told Boxing News.
“He [Haye] likes to bulk up on weights and get big, so I don’t know [what weight it would be at]. When he has a break he seems to shrink a little bit, so you never know. It could be just a little bit above cruiserweight, somewhere in the middle. It wouldn’t be a bull**** catchweight title fight, it would just be a catchweight fight.”
If a fight with me and @TonyBellew did happen, I’d get as light as possible for speed, as close to 210lbs as I can. https://t.co/gUzDea7EbC
— David Haye (@mrdavidhaye) May 31, 2016
After a three-and-a-half year hiatus, Haye returned to the ring in January with a one-round demolition of Mark De Mori before hammering the unknown Arnold Gjergjaj in two rounds last month.
While Haye’s level of opposition has been poor, he has shown he still carries his vaunted power and Coldwell is confident a potential Bellew-Haye fight would deliver.
“It would be a fun fight, you’re talking about two fighters who can bang, two fighters who have been over,” he continued.
“And we’re not talking about the David Haye of before, it’s the Haye who’s had three or so years out. His level of opposition hasn’t shown us anything. Most cruiserweights would beat the guys he’s fought. All we know is David Haye can punch – he’s always been able to punch, he could knock anybody out.
“If both men want it and if the weight can be agreed, then let’s do it.”
Former WBC champion Grigory Drozd – who vacated his title due to inactivity caused by injury – has announced he will exercise his right to face new titlist Bellew.
The WBC have not yet made a ruling on whether Bellew will have to face Drozd next, though Coldwell is more interested in unification fight with IBF and WBA champion Denis Lebedev.
“Drozd has decided to exercise his ‘champion in recess’ status and he wants to challenge Bellew. If we have to fight him, then we will. I’m confident Tony can beat any of them out there. He’s earned his stripes,” he said.
“Lebedev is actually a fight I wanted beforehand, I wanted him over Makabu. I didn’t want Makabu, I wanted Lebedev, style-wise I think he’s a better opponent for Tony. He’s got two titles now, so that’s a massive fight.”
Bellew will take a holiday with his family before returning to the gym to tick over while a decision is made on his next move.
