TONY BELLEW charged out of the ring to confront David Haye and then vowed to "smash" him after retaining his WBC world cruiserweight title against BJ Flores at Liverpool's Echo Arena.
Bellew, making his first defence of the belt, made light work of Haye's friend Flores, stopping him in round three, having sent him to the canvas three times in the previous round. There is no love lost between Bellew and Haye, with the Liverpudlian squaring up to his rival, who was watching ringside, before picking a fight in his post-match interview.
"I'm ruthless when I get going," Bellew said.
"BJ Flores is an old-school, respected fighter and he's trying to fulfil a childhood dream. I've pummelled him tonight. I'm not called the Bomber for nothing. [Haye's] been conning the British public since his pathetic comeback started.
"The last two guys you fought are working on nightclub doors, or they're putting the bins out. You're gonna get smashed too. With 10 ounce gloves on, I'll put you and your pathetic haircut to sleep. Brother, I'm the biggest payday you've got right now."
Haye, whose next fight is in December, following his comeback earlier this year, challenged Bellew to step up a division and says he would win with one hand: "His performance was first class. He beat BJ Flores, a good friend of mine," Haye said.
"Bellew has dynamite in his fists, but would that work on me? I don't think so. He was taken big shots in the process, his defence was leaky. Against me, that'd take one shot. I am a heavyweight for eight or nine years. If he wants to come up, it's an easy night's work. I'll probably knock him out with a jab. I could win the fight with one hand, just my left hand, I wouldn't even need my right hand."
Meanwhile on the undercard, Hull's Olympic gold medallist Luke Campbell retained his WBC silver lightweight title with a fourth-round stoppage of Liverpool-born Derry Mathews.
