David Haye v Tony Bellew Boxing Winner Odds & Predictions – 5th May 2018

Haye to rely on skills to take full distance victory

Sports Betting

Boxing rematches always add a little extra spice to things and we have a great one here as the long-awaited rematch between these two British fighters happens on Saturday. There was an upset when they met in March last year as Haye couldn’t finish off his opponent early on and Bellew got the better of things.

Then in Round 6 Haye suffered an Achilles injury and was just there to be hit the longer the fight went on. Bellew wants to shut the Hayemaker down again and send him to retirement. There’s no love lost between them it is far to say.

Haye has already said that unless he produces a spectacular knockout win over Bellew he will be going into retirement. This is all in the same division as Anthony Johnson and Deontay Wilder. Haye was holding onto the WBA world title which he lost to Wladimir Klitschko in 2011 and after a lay off through injury, following a victory over Dereck Chisora in 2012, Haye fought low-quality opposition before facing Bellew on his comeback, something he was mocked for.

David Haye v Tony Bellew Winner Betting Odds

Haye 4/9, Bellew 15/8* (betting odds taken on May 2nd, 2018 at 3:12 p.m.)

Haye just got things wrong tactically in the first bout. Will he have learned from that? Probably. These two were supposed to have gone at it late last year, but Haye had bicep surgery which delayed the rematch. His body, hampered by the Achilles problem in the end in that first bout, just don’t look up for the task in the first fight but he says that he is back sharper, more explosive than ever following his surgery.

The Hayemaker is a power-monger who is best laying it all on the line in the early rounds. He hasn’t been taken to twelve rounds for over seven years, although it nearly happened against Bellew until Haye’s trainer Shane McGuigan threw in the towel in the 11th round as his fighter was just a sitting duck.

So the question really is what can Haye do differently? He failed to make significant blows through the Bellew defence and the power shots were not there from him. It may all be down to stepping into the fight at a lighter weight and trying to manage the fight by conserving early on, something that is not his style. He may have to be prepared to stay the distance and Haye On Points is at 5/1 odds with bet365* (betting odds taken on May 2nd, 2018 at 3:12 p.m.)

Haye is a good technical boxer and he has famed coach, Ismael Salas, coaching him as well. All the words from camp point to Haye being a calmer, more focused and more positive fighter. But there is no secret that he is probably past the peak of his career and things have been different. Before the last fight, Haye got into trouble for his words and actions, something which got himself a fine. He has stepped back from the mud-slinging and insult-trading this time around.

Can Bellew follow up on his TKO win and prove that it wasn’t just a fluke because of Haye’s injury? To be fair Bellew stood up to Haye’s power shots well. In return, though Bellew didn’t really look as if he was able to hurt Haye even though his opponent was pretty much immobile. Haye got his injury in the sixth round and Bellew did only stop him in the penultimate one. So there is a lack of finishing power on the side of Bellew and if Haye is really stronger and in a better place, than it is unlikely that if the fight goes the distance that Bellew is going to outbox Haye.

Predictions

It looks for all the world that this is going to go the distance really as neither may be able to get that one clean shot away and finish the job early. Haye is the better fighter but his injury problems have been there for all to see. Bellew is going to be the fresher of the two with nothing physically having held him back. But will he be able to handle a fit Haye for twelve rounds?

Maybe not and David Haye by Decision is at 5/1 odds looks the way to swing for this British duel. Certainly as well over 9/5 rounds for 5/4* (betting odds taken on May 2nd, 2018 at 3:12 p.m.) is worth a look.