Tony Bellew's trainer didn't want to see it happen but, apparently, talks are ongoing to see Bellew fight Tyson Fury in 2018.
Dave Coldwell, Bellew's head coach, had stated from the outset that he wasn't interested in the Fury match-up but that hasn't dissuaded the Liverpool heavyweight from pursuing the bout.
Shortly after David Haye withdrew from his grudge rematch with 'Bomber', which was scheduled to take place in two weeks' time, Fury made it clear that he wanted to be next up for Bellew.
https://twitter.com/Tyson_Fury/status/932662255224795138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.joe.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ftyson-fury-is-already-showing-off-the-exact-combination-with-which-he-would-finish-tony-bellew-149979
And while many felt that the size difference between the men was far too vast to make it a realistic contest, negotiations have already begun and Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn has announced that it will indeed take place year.
"I believe you will see Bellew vs Fury in 2018 but it won't be the next one," Hearn told
Sky Sports.
"My plan for Tony Bellew is to beat David Haye then fight Tyson Fury. By the time he beats Haye, the Fury [anti-doping hearing] situation may be in the clear.
"Tony has had discussions with Fury. We have had discussions. I spoke to Fury about that fight.
"Fury has joined up with [management company] MTK so we will speak to those guys about the fight.
"It's quite a simple deal but it's about timing of when the fight takes place."
Fury hasn't fought in over two years but is expected to make his long-awaited return to the ring at some point in 2018, with a UK Anti-Doping hearing slated for later this month.
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The undefeated fighter's ultimate goal is a lucrative showdown with Anthony Joshua but Fury will likely require a couple of fights before that tilt, which would be the biggest that the heavyweight division has seen in years, can come to fruition.
Bellew remains hopeful of testing the ring rust of Fury in the interim and he has revealed that he's already spoken to '2 Fast' about a potential meeting.
"I spoke to him a little while back. We had a chat and we went over a few things and that was it," Bellew said in a separate interview with
Sky Sports.
"There wasn't really much to say besides 'I want to fight you, you want to fight me. You're Ring belt magazine champion, I like your belt, I want to punch your face in.
"In his defence, it's like, 'listen you haven't got a chance, I'm going to punch your face in.'"
