Tony Bellew tells David Haye to “bring it on, bitch” as he reveals fight is “getting closer”

Tony Bellew has told David Haye to "bring it on" after confirming that the prospect of the two rivals facing each other in the ring is "getting closer".

In an exclusive chat with JOE, the WBC cruiserweight world champion said he and Haye's camps are still trying to make the bout happen. “We’re in talks. That’s the best thing I could say about it. We are getting closer," he said.

"We are trying to iron out the differences that we have at this stage in time."

The Liverpool fighter, who starred in the Rocky film Creed as 'Pretty' Ricky Conlan in 2015, insisted he has plenty of options - but says Haye now has only one way to turn.

[caption id="attachment_98169" align="alignnone" width="1024"] In action: Bellew lands a punch on Ivica Bacurin during their Super Middleweight contest at the Echo Arena in Liverpool in 2015 (Photo by Dave Thompson/Getty Images)[/caption]

"For me, I have a number of avenues I can go down. I am the WBC cruiserweight champion of the world, and that is paramount to what I do.

"As for David, he’s been turned off from all avenues that he’s looking for. I do believe that he should have been fighting for the WBA world title.

[caption id="attachment_98170" align="alignnone" width="1024"] David Haye fighting Dereck Chisora (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images)[/caption]

"I don’t know how Shannon Briggs has jumped the queue ahead of him. But he has, and it puts David in a predicament of ‘where do I go?’

“Well, he knows where to go, and that is this big, ugly Scouser right here.”

Asked if he had a message for Haye, Everton fan Bellew said: "Bring it on, bitch".