Things got heated today, as Tony Bellew and David Haye came face-to-face for the first time since David Haye pulled out of their originally scheduled December 2017 date for their rematch.
We have just under 10 weeks to go until ‘The Bomber’ and ‘The Hayemaker’ face off for the second time, the bad blood was palpable as David Haye tried to adopt an uncharacteristic humble approach while Bellew once again tried to get under his skin with his comments.
Haye “They call me The Hayemaker for a reason” HMHQ #HayeBellew2
— David Haye (@davidhaye) February 21, 2018
The most noticeable barbs of the night came when Bellew accused ‘Hayemaker’ of wasting a year of his time. Furthermore, Bellew threatened that it ‘will all come to an end’ for Haye on May 5th.
“You trained brilliantly last time. You whipped your top off, you looked fantastic.
“You’re an amazing athlete, that won’t change.
“You’ve changed, you’ve been humbled.”
Haye publically accepted that Bellew humbled him in their first fight. Haye, however, ended the press conference reverting to form and again predicted a knockout victory.
Haye replied: “I love you Tony Bellew!”
Bellew retorted “I’m still going to punch you, real, real hard, and a lot of times.”
“You have labelled me so many things and there is this flip. You haven’t been humbled.”
Touching on his new approach, Haye said “It didn’t work last time, all the anger, all the hostility, whipping myself up. I need to focus.”
Bellew paid particular focus toward Haye’s pullout from the original rematch date. Bellew said, “I’m with the rosary beads every night just praying you turn up.”
“All good things come to an end at some stage and it is going to come to an end. I’ve prepared well.”
🙏
"I'm sat there every night with some rosary beads praying you turn up!" – @TonyBellew#BellewHaye2pic.twitter.com/Pp8SN2WLWt
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) February 21, 2018
“It has actually done my nut in, you have taken a whole year out of my life. A whole year!” Bellew added.
I’m a realist, not a fantasist. This fight can be ended in 20 seconds.
“If I hit his whiskers with my left hook, he’s going down too. With him coming in lighter, he’s going to be more susceptible.”
“I don’t tire in 12 rounds fights, and he does.”
“When the bell goes and it’s me and him, David will revert to type. The same crazy fight will unload again.”
🎯 May 5 #BellewHaye2 presser coming up from midday!! pic.twitter.com/AyJaQKtLsD
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) February 21, 2018
David Haye was much more laid back but as we approached the end of the press conference, Haye once again predicted a knockout just like he did the first time around.
“On May 5 is anything is possible and I will do the best I can do… and that means a vicious knockout.”
“They call me Hayemaker for a reason. I missed with them in the first one so I am going to refocus this time. Tune in on May 5.”Haye concluded.
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