Tony Bellew will have his long-awaited heavyweight fight with David Haye next year.
The Liverpool-born boxer is set to take on the former WBA champion at London’s O2 Arena on March 4, 2017 following months of public barbs being traded between the pair.
Bellew picked out Haye in the crowd after successfully defending his WBC cruiserweight title against BJ Flores in October.
He said: “I’ve backed him into a corner, left him nowhere to go, and now I have what I want.
“I’m not under any illusions, I know exactly what I am going up against, it’s big risk, big reward.
“I cop him with my best punch, he’s going to sleep. He cops me with his best punch, more than likely I am going to sleep too.
“I know what I am up against but the big factor for me is, I’m a very active fighter, I’ve had no breaks and I’ve got very little wear and tear on me.
“If it comes down to a question of heart and determination, I win hands down. If it comes down to one punch, it’s a 50-50.”
The fight will be Bellew’s first at heavyweight level while Haye recently returned to the category following a four-year hiatus.
The country is fed up of his constant yapping,” said Haye.
“Even in his home town of Liverpool, I would be stopped in the street by people begging me to spectacularly send him into retirement.
“Bellew is completely delusional if he thinks he can beat me. He still thinks he’s on the set of Creed and there will be some kind of Rocky-style happy ending.
“But come March 4 at The O2 in London I will bring reality crashing down on him.
“I’ve earned my credentials the hard way inside the ring, not on film sets. There will be no second takes, no stunt men taking the blows and no flashing lights on the red carpet.
“The only lights Bellew will see are those of the spot lights shining down on him when he wakes up from his nap on the canvas.”