TONY BELLEWย is targeting a return to the ring in December but admits a heavyweight rematch with David Haye is looking increasingly unlikely.
Five months ago Liverpudlian Bellew made the step up to heavyweight to face Haye, who was stopped in the 11th round of a bout in which he suffered a ruptured Achilles.
Bellew, 34, sustained a broken hand himself and revealed after the contest that he would consider retirement, but is now back training six times a week to keep himself in shape for another fight in 2017.
Good work in the Coldwell Gym today. @bigtwinnygav @afowler06 & The Bomber @TonyBellew all getting back into the swing of things #boxing ???? pic.twitter.com/Swc6e2dYIN
โ Dave Coldwell (@davidcoldwell) August 3, 2017
That may not be against Haye given how difficult negotiations on a rematch have proved, with Bellew also considering meeting undefeated light-heavyweight champion Andre Ward or WBO heavyweight belt holder Joseph Parker.
โI am going to go out some time in December,โ Bellew confirmed to Press Association Sport.
โWeโve sat down with Andre Wardโs team, Iโve personally sat down with Joseph Parker and his team, and I leave Eddie [Hearn] to deal with the other fella [Haye] from London.
โDavid is an amazing fighter, athlete and sportsman, [but] when it comes to business heโs an absolute moronโฆwell itโs not even him, itโs people his side.
โIโm sure they say the business people my side are morons too because weโre all fighting to get that little percentage more.
โIโm further away than ever with the David Haye fight, thatโs just the way it is. Iโm a lot closer now to the Andre Ward fight than I ever have been before.
โI like the Andre Ward fight. The numbers didnโt match up at first but then Eddie worked out a way where it can work favourably for what I want.
โThereโs the Joseph Parker fight; the lure of becoming heavyweight champion for me outweighs everything else.
โThe money does play a factor but the lure and the dream of becoming heavyweight champion of the world โ no money in the world can ever make that up.โ
The ruptured Achilles which clearly restricted Haye in his last encounter has not put an asterisk next to the win for Bellew.
And given the options on the table for Bellew, the rematch Haye was promised by his conqueror in the build-up is far from a foregone conclusion.
โRight now heโs saying one thing, Iโm saying another and there is no middle ground,โ Bellew, speaking as an ambassador for Betsafe, admitted.
โIโve already shocked the world. I donโt care if people think I won because of that injury.
โHopefully it can happen again so I can prove to everyone I can beat him no matter what; if it doesnโt, so be it.
โI donโt need David Haye, my career does not revolve around David Haye. My career revolves around me and what I choose to do.โ